Traditional (decentralized) student assignment systems are characterized by their inefficiency, lack of transparency, and inequity of distribution. In response, ever more places have begun to implement digital centralized assignment systems. Although the literature has endorsed these systems assignment efficiency, this document is the first to analyze their cost-efficiency and discuss traditionally overlooked benefits: monitoring, transparency, and planning tools in the market.

Traditional (decentralized) student assignment systems are characterized by their inefficiency, lack of transparency, and inequity of distribution. In response, ever more places have begun to implement digital centralized assignment systems. Although the literature has endorsed these systems assignment efficiency, this document is the first to analyze their cost-efficiency and discuss traditionally overlooked benefits: monitoring, transparency, and planning tools in the market.

The increase in waiting lists for care is a very relevant problem for health systems. While some of the causes are related to deficits in the supply of professionals, equipment and infrastructure, others are related to poor patient management. International experience confirms the importance of combining management with financing.

The increase in waiting lists for care is a very relevant problem for health systems. While some of the causes are related to deficits in the supply of professionals, equipment and infrastructure, others are related to poor patient management. International experience confirms the importance of combining management with financing.

By March 2020, COVID-19 was confirmed present in all Latin American and Caribbean countries. Not only did the pandemic weakened the regions economy, it exacerbated structural inequalities. Women, indigenous peoples, African descendants, persons with disabilities and the LGBTQ community were disproportionately affected by the pandemic, reflecting both the vulnerability of these groups and the fragility of the progress made in recent years toward improving their social welfare.

Unlike in other policy areas, responsibility for gender policy is distributed throughout the entire structure of the State. However, in order to coordinate and make public action on the gender equality agenda more effective, several countries in the region have created ministerial structures to promote and implement cross-cutting gender policies. This document discusses the importance of this institutionalization process, the role of the Ministries of Women and how they can be strengthened to achieve more and better outcomes in the region.

Despite the progress that has been made in the region to close the gaps and inequalities that affect people with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities, stigma and discrimination continue to be obstacles that affect the social inclusion and full citizenship of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer and other (LGBTQ) people. In order to promote equal rights and opportunities for all LGBTQ people, it is crucial to have solid evidence that can inform policy design in the region.

A significant proportion of women in the region are employed as domestic workers, but only a minority of them have access to the social security system. The labor informality observed in this sector is twice the average informality rate of the rest of the salaried employees in the region. This note presents data on the situation of domestic workers in Latin America, followed by a discussion on the policies implemented to increase the formalization of labor for domestic workers in the region.

Current carbon emission trends threaten inevitable and irreversible changes to the environment that could cost the region US$100 billion annually by 2050 and the loss of up to 2.5 million jobs by 2030. Climate change affects us all. However, women, indigenous peoples, African descendants, and persons with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to the environmental, economic, and social disruptions caused by climate change. At the same time, these groups are decisive agents of change for the mitigation of climate change and the transition to a green and sustainable economy.