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

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
All publications
Biblioteca con estanterías de libros. Innovación y Desarrollo - Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo - BID
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 Preparing The Macroeconomic Terrain. Economic Development - Inter-American Development Bank - IDB
Preparing the Macroeconomic Terrain for Renewed Growth
  • Latin America and the Caribbean needs to implement macroeconomic policies to lower inflation and mitigate the impacts of an adverse global context in 2023. 
  • A baseline scenario sees the region growing by 1% in 2023 after better-than-expected growth of 3.9% in 2022. Growth is predicted to reach 1.9% in 2024. 
  • Countries are facing a triple social, fiscal and growth challenge that is limiting their development and that of their population. They have the tools to address this challenge if they make the appropriate policy choices. 
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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 Research Insights: Does Voting Eligibility Foster Interest in Electoral Issues and Candidates?
Banner de color azul Research Insights: How Do High Interest Rates Limit Development?
Banner de color azul Research Insights: How Countercyclical Should a Fiscal Rule Be in Commodity-Dependent Economies?
Banner de color azul Research Insights: What Are the Financial Impacts of Disability in Terms of Income and Expenditure?
Banner de color azul Research Insights: What Is the Role of Market Expectations in Sovereign Debt Crises?
Our Events
All Events
Tres colaboradores del BID en una conferencia. Desarrollo sostenible - Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo
A Conversation with Finance Ministers on Economic Policies A Conversation with Finance Ministers on Economic Policies
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Research and Policy Seminar: The Need for a Modern and Consistent Monetary Policy Framework Research and Policy Seminar: The Need for a Modern and Consistent Monetary Policy Framework
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A Conversation with Central Bank Governors A Conversation with Central Bank Governors
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Mar 25, 2024
EconNet: Bureaucratic Nepotism
08:00 AM - 09:00 AM
Washington, D.C.
May 22, 2023
EconNet: Casting a Wider Net: Sharing Information Beyond Social Networks | Kyle Emerick (Tufts University)
08:00 AM - 09:00 AM
United States - Washington, D.C.
May 15, 2023
EconNet: Adoption of Foreign Products and Information Externalities Across Domestic Networks | David Argente (Penn State)
08:00 AM - 09:00 AM
United States - Washington, D.C.
May 08, 2023
EconNet: Markup Dispersion Across Buyers | Javier Cravino (Michigan University)
08:00 AM - 09:00 AM
United States - Washington, D.C.
Apr 27, 2023
EconNet: Mobility for All: Representative Intergenerational Mobility Estimates over the 20th Century | Elisa Jacome (Northwestern University)
08:00 AM - 09:00 AM
United States - Washington, D.C.
Apr 12, 2023
Research and Policy Seminar: The Global Economy at a Turning Point | Kenneth Rogoff (Harvard University)
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Washington, DC
Our Blogs
All Blogs
Mujer observando un holograma con información. Tecnología e inclusión - Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo - BID
Empresario de juguete caminando sobre gráficos financieros. Finanzas públicas y Desarrollo - Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo - BID Fiscal Fatigue in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Growing Threat

During the COVID-19 pandemic, governments in Latin America and the Caribbean spent generously to support families, firms and banks, helping to ease the economic pain but also pushing public debt well above historic levels.

Una pareja de adultos mayores sonriendo. Desarrollo Social - Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo - BID Five Lessons on Strengthening Social Protection from Three Years of Research at the IDB’s Research Department

The events of the past three years have put low- and middle-income countries in Latin America and the Caribbean in a bind.

Mujer mayor revisando su teléfono celular. Transformación digital - Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo - BID Digital Finance and Pandemic Remittances

Remittances, or the money sent by migrants to their home countries, have always played a crucial role in the economies of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Publications Datasets Ideas Matter Blog Events
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