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Research at the IDB

Research at the IDB
A girl is reading a notebook - Inter-American Development Bank - IDB
Highlights Research Projects Researchers Networks

The Research Department generates innovative ideas that support the strategic policy agenda of the IDB and its member countries to achieve inclusive and sustainable economic and social development in Latin America and the Caribbean. To maximize the impact of its research, we carry out activities that serve as inputs to bank departments, governments, the academic community and public opinion in the region.

We advise management on economic and development issues, conducts research and analysis on macro- and microeconomic trends, and oversees development of the IDB’s quantitative and analytical databases. It dons a team of researchers with excellent academic credentials, superior research and policymaking experience, and expertise in different areas.

Our Publications
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Biblioteca con estanterías de libros. Innovación y Desarrollo - Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo - BID
Flagships Book Building on Macroeconomic - Macroreport - Inter American Development Bank - IDB
Ready for Take-Off? Building on Macroeconomic Stability for Growth
  • Latin America and the Caribbean exceeded growth expectations in 2023 thanks to its strong macroeconomic fundamentals, which helped the region cut inflation and unwind steep spending increases undertaken due to COVID-19.
  • Countries should now focus on lowering interest rates without triggering unintended consequences; reducing fiscal imbalances in a politically charged context; and implementing far-reaching reforms to tackle low productivity and spur long-term growth.
  • To grow their economies and move towards net zero emissions, countries can capitalize on their rich natural endowments, from renewable energy sources to minerals and food.
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Cover of the publication Rethinking Urban Migration. Digital transformation - Inter-American Development Bank - IDB
Rethinking Urban Migration Policy Options for Cities in Latin America and the Caribbean
  • Migration Brings Both Challenges and Opportunities for Cities: Migrants arriving in Latin American and Caribbean cities can contribute to economic growth and development by bringing their ideas, culture, skills, and labor. However, they may also pose challenges related to housing, employment of low-skilled workers, and the strain on public services.
  • Policymakers Should Focus on Maximizing Migration Benefits: To harness the potential of urban migration, policymakers should prioritize policies that promote migrants' contributions to local productivity growth, improve housing availability, and mitigate potential negative impacts, while considering the specific context and needs of both migrant and resident populations.
  • Rethinking Urban Migration for Long-lasting Local Economic Development: Embracing urban migration and effectively integrating migrants to the local economy can lead to long-term economic benefits for cities, fostering innovation, productivity, and competitiveness. This not only benefits migrants but also enhances the well-being of local residents, especially those in vulnerable situations, contributing to the broader community's prosperity.
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Cover of the publication Dealing With Debt. Sustainable development - Inter-American Development Bank - IDB
Dealing with Debt: Less Risk for More Growth in Latin America and the Caribbean
  • Total debt in Latin America and the Caribbean has grown to US$5.8 trillion, or 117 percent of GDP. Public debt soared during the pandemic, and corporates issued substantial amounts to survive the crisis. 
  • While taking on debt helped the region weather the pandemic, it is now weighing down its economy. If countries want to grow and reduce the possibility of a deeper debt crisis, they need to bring down debt to prudent levels. 
  • To achieve prudent debt levels, policymakers can focus on better fiscal institutions, implementing fiscal consolidation, improving debt management, and providing well-targeted assistance to promising private firms. 
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Banner de color azul Market Power in Latin America in Worldwide Perspective: An Empirical Exploration
Banner de color azul Bank Loans, Trade Credit and Export Prices: Evidence from Exchange Rate Shocks in China
Banner de color azul Reshaping Retirement: Navigating Latin America's Pension Systems after COVID-19: Executive Summary
Banner de color azul Inequality Persistence and Policymaking Constraints: Explaining Regional Data Patterns
Banner de color azul Environmental Damage News and Stock Returns: Evidence from Latin America
Banner de color azul Selección dinámica de beneficiarios de programas sociales: opciones de mejora de la estimación de prueba de medias
Our Events
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Tres colaboradores del BID en una conferencia. Desarrollo sostenible - Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo
Our Blogs
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Mujer observando un holograma con información. Tecnología e inclusión - Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo - BID
Fiscal Graphics - Fiscal Consolidation - Inter American Development Bank - IDB The Imperatives of Fiscal Health

By 2020, at the nadir of the COVID-19 pandemic, Latin American and Caribbean governments had spent so much on health and transfers to keep people and firms afloat that the average primary balance (the budget balance without interest payments on debt) had soared to -4.8% of GDP.

Girl drawing on a board with sticky notes - Productivity Growth - Inter American Development Bank - IDB Where Productivity and Prosperity Meet

Between 1960 and 2019, Latin America and the Caribbean grew faster than advanced economies in terms of labor, years of schooling, and physical capital. Yet, the difference in average annual growth between the two groups of countries was striking, with the advanced economies growing 2.6% versus around 1.8% for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Graphic of window view of a beach for retirement - Retirement - Inter American Development Bank - IDB Pension Problems and the Need for Reform in the Wake of the COVID-19

As COVID-19 struck, governments across Latin America and the Caribbean imposed lockdowns and other restrictions that led to widespread job losses. There was record unemployment in the hospitality, tourism, and retail sectors.

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