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Office of the Chief Economist, Latin America and the Caribbean

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LAC Economic Review
ECONOMIC REVIEW
New Approaches to Closing the Fiscal Gap
October 3, 2022 — Latin America and the Caribbean economies have recovered to their pre-pandemic levels and the region has regained some sense of normalcy, but economies need to be reignited in order to avoid a new low-growth cycle. Social and infrastructure investments can be key drivers of growth and Read More »
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ECONOMIC REVIEW
Consolidating the recovery
April 5, 2022 —  Economies in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) are on track to recover from the COVID-19 crisis, but the scars of the pandemic remain and the need for a more dynamic, inclusive and sustainable growth is ever more urgent. Read More »
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ECONOMIC REVIEW
Recovering Growth
October 4, 2021 — After its worst economic crisis in 100 years, Latin America and the Caribbean countries are emerging from the COVID‐19 pandemic. The need to recover dynamic, inclusive, and sustainable growth to redress both the legacy of the pandemic and long‐standing social needs has never been more acute. Read More »
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Report
The Fast Track to New Skills : Short-Cycle Higher Education Programs in Latin America and the Caribbean
October 3, 2021 — Higher education in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) has expanded dramatically in the new millennium, yet enrollment in short-cycle programs (SCPs) is still relatively low. Shorter and more practical than bachelor’s programs, Read More »
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Report
Employment in Crisis : The Path to Better Jobs in a Post-COVID-19 Latin America
June 15, 2021 — A region known for its volatility, Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) has suffered severe economic and social setbacks from crises—including the COVID-19 pandemic. These crises have taken their toll on careers, wage growth, and productivity. Read More »
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ECONOMIC REVIEW
Renewing with Growth
March 26, 2021 —  The immense disruption from the pandemic may lay the groundwork for higher productivity through economic restructuring and digitization. Other growth opportunities stem from innovations in the electricity sector, according to the World Bank LAC Semiannual report Renewing with Growth. Read More »

 

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

Economic reviews

The economic review examines the economic and financial outlook for the Latin America and the Caribbean region.

Economic reviews

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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

Related projects

Productivity Project

The World Bank Productivity Project seeks to bring frontier thinking on the measurement and determinants of productivity to global policy makers. Each conference and volume in the series explores a different aspect of the topic through dialogue with academics and policy makers, and through sponsored empirical work in our client countries. 

Listen to the UNECE Innovation Matter Podcast here and join their newsletter.

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
William Maloney

William Maloney

Chief Economist
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