This paper analyzes the relevance of external factors in average quarterly GDP growth for 1990-2006 in the seven largest Latin American countries (LAC7). Modeling the relationship between LAC7 GDP and several external factors, it is found that those factors account for a significant share of...

We begin with a brief overview of Chilean firms responses to the globalization pressures originated by the economic liberalization in Chile since 1975 and in the rest of Latin America since 1985. One of these responses was the rise of Chilean outbound foreign direct investments across Latin...

This paper presents evidence on the impact of economic crisis on poverty and inequality in Latin America. Crises not only result in higher poverty rates but also may cause irreversible damage to the human capital of the poor. In light of this evidence, the author concludes that crisis avoidance...

This paper provides guidance to Bank staff on how to conduct an expanded, comprehensive economic cost-benefit analysis (CBA) in order to measure net benefits from a project taking both project and environmental factors into account, as required under Directives B.5 and B.9 in the Bank's...

The 2007 Report on Economic and Social Progress in Latin America analyzes the nature and evolution of sovereign debt in Latin America and discusses the policies that can be followed by countries and international financial institutions (IFIs) to reduce the vulnerabilities associated with it....

Monetary normalization may be a chronicle foretold, but countries still have the power to influence the outcome for their own economies. This report focuses on the risks Latin American and Caribbean countries face and how they can reduce vulnerabilities and enhance opportunities.Abstract: Puede...

This report examines the quality of public policies in Latin America and the Caribbean after more than a decade of political and economic reform. A wide variety of examples and case studies are presented in an analytical framework to help explain why policies that work in certain institutional...