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Office of the Chief Economist, Latin America and the Caribbean

FEATURED
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Videos
Six questions about the Covid-19 crisis in LAC
Six short videos the punchiest segments from a webinar about “The Impact of COVID-19 in Latin America” Read More »
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Report
The Economy in the Time of Covid-19
After a period of rapid economic growth associated with high commodity prices, the region had entered a phase of lackluster performance. Recent developments, including a new oil price shock, and the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic will push the region into recession. Read More »
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The Office of the Chief Economist provides guidance on strategic priorities and technical quality of economic analysis in the Latin America and the Caribbean region (LAC).

This mission is accomplished through:

  • Advising on country and sectoral strategies.
  • Quality enhancement of economic justification and analysis in adjustment and investment lending.
  • Ensuring relevance, coherence and quality of non-lending services.
  • Developing and disseminating regional economic studies.
  • Serving as principal regional spokesperson inside and outside the Bank on strategic and economic issues facing the region. 

Annual Flagship Reports

These review the economic and financial outlook of the Latin America and the Caribbean region. They also cover the short-term prospects and provide a deep analysis of the internal and external factors affecting the region's economic and financial performance.

Annual Flagship Reports

Semiannual Reports

The semiannual report reviews the economic and financial outlook for the Latin America and the Caribbean region.

Semiannual Reports

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Regional Studies

These are one of our main lines of policy-oriented research. They focus on topics that are central to economic and social development policies in the region. Typically, they are relevant to different sectors and countries.

Research teams for these studies generally involve experts from outside the Office of the Chief Economist, including top internationally renowned researchers from universities and think tanks in the region.

Regional Studies

Economics Seminar Series

These aim to promote awareness and debate of high-quality economic research that is relevant to the World Bank’s operations and strategy in the region. The seminars are thematically broad-ranging, covering all relevant areas of economics.

Economics Seminar Series

If you wish to be included in our distribution list, please contact :  Jackie Larrabure.

Latin American Development Forum Series

The Latin American Development Forum series was created in 2003 to promote debate, disseminate information and analysis, and convey the excitement and complexity of the most topical issues in economic and social development in Latin America and the Caribbean.  It is sponsored by the Inter-American Development Bank, the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, and the World Bank. The manuscripts chosen for publication represent the highest quality in each institution’s research and activity output and have been selected for their relevance to the academic community, policy makers, researchers, and interested readers.

Advisory Committee Members:

  • Alicia Bárcena Ibarra, Executive Secretary, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, United Nations
  • Inés Bustillo, Director, Washington Office, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, United Nations
  • Augusto de la Torre, Chief Economist, Latin America and the Caribbean Region, World Bank
  • Tito Cordella, Deputy Chief Economist, Latin America and the Caribbean Region, World Bank
  • Santiago Levy, Vice President for Sectors and Knowledge, Inter-American Development Bank
  • José Juan Ruiz, Chief Economist and Manager of the Research Department, , Inter-American Development Bank
  • Andrés Velasco, CIEPLAN, Chile  
  • Secretariat: Santiago Pombo, Editor-in-Chief, World Bank

Latin American Development Forum Series

The Latin American Development Forum series was created in 2003 to promote debate, disseminate information and analysis, and convey the excitement and complexity of the most topical issues in economic and social development in Latin America and the Caribbean.  It is sponsored by the Inter-American Development Bank, the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, and the World Bank. The manuscripts chosen for publication represent the highest quality in each institution’s research and activity output and have been selected for their relevance to the academic community, policy makers, researchers, and interested readers.

Advisory Committee Members:

  • Alicia Bárcena Ibarra, Executive Secretary, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, United Nations
  • Inés Bustillo, Director, Washington Office, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, United Nations
  • Augusto de la Torre, Chief Economist, Latin America and the Caribbean Region, World Bank
  • Tito Cordella, Deputy Chief Economist, Latin America and the Caribbean Region, World Bank
  • Santiago Levy, Vice President for Sectors and Knowledge, Inter-American Development Bank
  • José Juan Ruiz, Chief Economist and Manager of the Research Department, , Inter-American Development Bank
  • Andrés Velasco, CIEPLAN, Chile  
  • Secretariat: Santiago Pombo, Editor-in-Chief, World Bank
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LAC CHIEF ECONOMIST
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Martín Rama

Chief Economist