This working paper advances research on inequality with unique, new data on income distribution in 61 countries, including 20 Latin American countries, to explore the effects of political parties on redistribution. First, consistent with a central, but still contested, assumption of the...

This paper presents an integrated overview of the literature linking institutions, financial development and economic growth. From the large body of research on institutional development, the paper first selects those contributions that make it possible to study the role of institutional...

Broadband is key to inclusive growth. It contributes substantially to social and economic development in the areas of job creation, business investment, and online services, among others. Several countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have already initiated reforms of their...

Presentation delivered during the event "Experiencias de Provisión y Financiamiento de Infraestructura bajo Alianzas Publico-Privadas", held at the Inter-American Development Bank headquarters, Washington D.C., USA, December 8-9, 2005. It describes the relationship between Portugal and the...

This paper is part of the project "Explaining Economic Growth Performance" launched by the Global Development Network (GDN). The purpose of this project is to explain economic growth performances across seven regions of the world. This paper provides a qualitative and quantitative evaluation of...

This paper examines Brazilian economic growth as part of the project "Explaining Economic Growth Performance" launched by the Global Development Network (GDN), the purpose of which is to explain economic growth performances across seven regions of the world. According to the author of this...

During the Hemispheric Summit that took place in Quebec, Canada, in April 2001, the Inter-American Development Bank presented a set of 22 strategic programs intended to contribute to meeting the mandates that stem from the Summits of the Americas and the commitments that are part of the Plan of...

Today over 80 percent of the businesses in Latin America and the Caribbean have 10 employees or less and, depending on the country, they provide between 30 and 80 percent of employment. Yet, in spite of this new empowering view of microenterprises--as a means for the poor to earn their...

In this paper we argue that recent trade policy in Mexico, despite some of its accomplishments in boosting Mexican exports over the last decade, might have distracted the country's attention from looking at the root causes that underlie Mexico's mixed manufacturing performance.

Remittances in the Andes finance investment and growth, reduce poverty, complement national savings, and are a source of foreign exchange. Properly mobilized remittances can contribute to increased investment in housing, in human capital and help to finance micro and small-scale firms.