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VideoMay 19, 2020

The Impact of COVID-19 in Latin America

This seminar on May 19, 2020 addressed the growing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Latin American economies with lessons for other emerging economies. Ignacio Briones, Minister of Finance of Chile, offered a concise introduction. Then, prominent academics and former Ministers of Finance from the region shared their views on how the crisis is affecting key macroeconomic variables, including fiscal space, debt capacity, inflation expectations, and growth. The panel also discussed the optimal policy responses to soften the effects of the sustained shock on households and firms, particularly given the social pressures to ease the lockdown, the risk of new waves of infection, and limited economic tools available in the region.