Health spending is a major concern in our region, for households and governments alike. Two recently published studies that were commissioned by the IDB examine how health spending may evolve in the near future, what drives these changes, and what can be done.
In Latin America and the Caribbean, 7.8 million people over the age of 65 need help with activities of daily living, a figure that will increase to 14 million by 2035 and to 23 million by 2050. Aging particularly affects women, who live longer than men and predominantly take on caregiving roles:
Several countries in Latin America are implementing various programs to improve pregnancy and childbirth care and thus reduce maternal, neonatal, and infant morbidity and mortality.
Economic research on sexual minority individuals in developing countries has been constrained by the scarcity of nationally representative surveys asking about sexual orientation. This paper merges and harmonizes census data from eight Latin American countries to document socio-economic disparities between different-sex and same-sex couples.
Educational dashboards are key tools for enhancing data-driven decision-making in schools, providing teachers and principals with actionable insights. However, their adoption in Latin America and the Caribbean is hindered by challenges such as data quality issues, lack of interoperability in Education Information Management Systems (EMIS), and limited alignment with user needs. This document presents an analytical framework to address these barriers, combining a bottom-up approach that improves dashboards based on educators needs with a top-down strategy to strengthen their effective use.
Sharing knowledge is key to transforming realities. This publication brings together five finalist cases from the 2024 edition of Superheroes of Development, an initiative through which the IDB Group recognizes teams that implement challenging and innovative projects across Latin America and the Caribbean. It highlights experiences from Honduras, Colombia, Bolivia, Brazil, and Guatemala, along with lessons learned that have high potential for replication and can contribute to better public policy design and improved execution of other development projects.
The arrival of a first child sparks a whirlwind of hope and dreams in soon-to-be parents: the vision of a full, stable, and enriching family life intertwines with the excitement of the unknown.
In this blog post, we share research that explores how fatherhood impacts men’s brains.
A few weeks ago, we had the chance to engage in a fascinating conversation with Peter Singer’s AI avatar—an experimental project built using his writings and public statements to provide answers that closely reflect his positions. The avatar, while compelling, left us wondering: what would the real Peter Singer say?
We don’t need to wonder anymore.
For years, technology has entered classrooms across Latin America and the Caribbean with promises of an educational revolution. Many well-intentioned efforts have produced mixed results. However, evidence accumulated over recent decades has taught us that what truly makes a difference is not the technology itself, but how it is used.
Today, artificial intelligence (AI) arrives with even greater potential—but also with new questions. Are we ready to integrate AI with purpose, equity, and vision? Can we do so in light of what we’ve already learned?
Having women in leadership positions within organizations is a strategic decision. A study analyzing more than 1,000 publicly traded companies in 12 countries found that those with greater female representation at the executive level were 21% more likely to outperform their peers in profits and 27% more likely to create long-term value. Evidence shows that female leadership drives economic growth and enhances corporate productivity.