This paper proposes a methodology to resolve the problems that result from using a combination of objective and subjective information in evaluating urban quality of life. The paper further suggests techniques to identify and rank issues of potential importance for urban dwellers. In order to...

El objetivo del presente estudio es, en primer lugar, introducir el estado actual del marco normativo e institucional vigente para la promoción de recursos energéticos renovables, tanto convencionales (RERC, es decir, grandes centrales hidráulicas), como no convencionales (RER, es decir,...

The Energy Division of the Infrastructure and Environment Sector (INE/ENE) of the Inter-American Development Bank has launched a technical cooperation project called "Smart Grid and Its Application in Sustainable Cities" to aid countries in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region. This...

This paper models the impact on economic growth of HIV/AIDS when the epidemic is in a mature phase, in contrast with previous studies focused on periods of expansion, as in African countries. Simulations for Honduras, the epicenter of the epidemic in Central America, show that AIDS is not likely...

The World Economic Forum (WEF) views competitiveness as the potential of a country to grow in a sustained way over the medium to long term and thus create prosperity for its citizens. The Global Competitiveness Index (GCI), developed by Professor Xavier Sala-i-Martin of Columbia University...

Although science has unlocked the secrets of the human genome, the causes of social and economic development remain stubbornly enigmatic. Why do some countries adopt new technologies more readily than others? Why does income inequality persist in some regions--even in the face of rapid economic...

The present publication traces the history of the Bank's lending for urban development and discusses its approaches to current urban issues. It is intended for specialists and individuals interested in getting acquainted with the evolution of the Bank portfolio.