United States economic outlook: Inflation trends post COVID-19

The United States has witnessed historic inflation since the economy began to reopen in 2021 following the lockdowns triggered by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The United States economic outlook: inflation trends post COVID-19 looks at the forces behind this surge in prices and the trade-offs and risks for the policy response. The report examines inflation trends and drivers, as well as labour market trends since the economy reopened; economic policies implemented by the United States in response to the pandemic, and more recently to inflation; and the possible impact of these p…

Demographic Observatory of Latin America and the Caribbean 2022. Population trends in Latin America and the Caribbean: Demographic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic

The 2022 edition of the Demographic Observatory offers selected indicators of population estimates and projections for 38 countries and territories in Latin America and the Caribbean. The estimates and projections were prepared by CELADE in conjunction with the United Nations Population Division (UNPD) for the 20 countries of Latin America; those for the 18 Caribbean countries and territories were prepared by UNPD. This new release updates previously published figures and uses the cohort component method by single ages and calendar years, unlike the 2019 edition, which was prepared for years e…

Second United Nations survey on Latin American and Caribbean youth within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Report of results

In 2021, the entities of the United Nations system in Latin America and the Caribbean that are members of the Working Group on Youth of the Regional Collaborative Platform for Latin America and the Caribbean launched a second online survey. The aim was to assess how young people were living a year after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and what were their concerns about the present and the future. The survey was conducted between August and October 2021 among young people aged 15–29, with more than 46,000 respondents from 42 countries and territories in the region. The main findings of th…

The Caribbean outlook. Summary. Recovery and resilience - repositioning the Caribbean post COVID-19

The Caribbean Outlook. Summary

The Hummingbird Vol. 9 No. 10

Annotated provisional agenda. Twenty-ninth session of the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee (CDCC) of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean

Provisional agenda. Twenty-ninth session of the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee (CDCC) of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean

Policy imperatives for the timely production and dissemination of quality and relevant statistics in the Caribbean. Policy Brief

Many international development agendas highlight the importance of quality data for sustainable development. With the advent of the data revolution for sustainable development, stakeholders have underscored the value of timely, usable data in informing decision-making and for monitoring progress and evaluating outcomes, be it in relation to national development planning or as regards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other international development agendas. Crucially, the COVID-19 pandemic, more than anything else in recent times, has demonstrated the value of tim…

Resilient and affordable housing in the Caribbean: Policy recommendations towards a transformative, green and inclusive recovery strategy. Policy Brief

The Caribbean faces multidimensional vulnerabilities driven by climate change and aggravated by Small Island Developing States’ natural and economic characteristics (SIDS). A critical natural feature of SIDS is the extreme vulnerability to climate-change-induced events. Economically, the Caribbean has followed the global trend of seeing its urban areas swell during the last decades. Moreover, the region’s coastal areas expose human settlements, infrastructure, and businesses to external shocks, such as climate change-induced extreme weather events. In addition, the 2019 novel coronavirus disea…

Natural Resources in Latin America and the Caribbean - No.4

Drinking water and electricity are basic services that proved essential to counter the impact of the COVID-19 crisis. At the same time, they represented an opportunity for investment to spur economic recovery in the countries of the region. Since the early months of 2022, they have been particularly threatened by the impact of the war in Ukraine on the world prices of fossil fuels, which are basic inputs for both sectors. Together with higher prices for edible oils, cereals and fertilizers, this has led to a rise in poverty and in energy, water and food insecurity in the region. In Latin Ameri…

Use of the damage and loss assessment methodology to estimate the effects of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic

Given the human, social and economic impacts of COVID-19 across the world and the Latin American and Caribbean region, since its onset the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) has focused its work agenda on assessing the impact of the pandemic on the three dimensions of sustainable development. To contribute to these efforts, this paper presents the Methodology for the Assessment of Disasters (known as Damage and Loss Assessment – DaLa) developed by ECLAC, and its applicability in the national assessments of the effects of COVID-19. The Commission is therefore making…

Lessons and challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic for household surveys in Latin America

As a consequence of mobility restrictions aimed at containing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections, several national statistical offices (NSOs) suspended the collection of household survey data and struggled to continue publishing indicators derived from this type of statistical operation. This note presents a summary of the strategies implemented to continue the production of employment, income and poverty statistics during the health emergency. Lessons learned during the period may improve preparedness for future emergencies of this nature.…

The Hummingbird Vol. 9 No. 7

Demographic Observatory of Latin America and the Caribbean 2021. The 2020 round of population and housing censuses in Latin America and the Caribbean amid the pandemic: Regional overview and pressing challenges

This edition of the Demographic Observatory analyses the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on the population and housing censuses of the countries of the region, based on information available until October 2021, seeking to identify possible areas of action to obtain relevant information in support of policies and programmes aimed at overcoming the difficulties caused by the pandemic, and measure the effects of the crisis on the population.…

Employment Situation in Latin America and the Caribbean. Real wages during the pandemic: Trends and challenges

There were signs of a partial recovery in the labour markets and economies of Latin America and the Caribbean during 2021, in the wake of the crisis caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Nonetheless, although the labour force participation rate and employment both improved in the year, figures for some of the groups hit hardest by the pandemic, such as women and domestic workers, remained well below pre-pandemic levels. The partial recovery in local demand and the effect of global conditions on production costs contributed to a rise in regional inflation, in turn affecting min…

The sociodemographic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in Latin America and the Caribbean

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has had a profound and multidimensional impact on the population. Latin America and the Caribbean, characterized by high levels of inequality, labour informality and vulnerability, is one of the regions hardest hit by the health, economic and social impacts of the pandemic. This document analyses the effects of the pandemic on population dynamics and on the sociodemographic processes outlined in the Montevideo Consensus on Population and Development, such as ageing, gender equality and women’s autonomy, the exercise of sexual and reproductive rights,…

Repercussions in Latin America and the Caribbean of the war in Ukraine: how should the region face this new crisis?

This policy brief prepared by ECLAC examines the economic and social impact of the war in Ukraine on the region, and offers countries recommendations on how to address its effects. The document analyzes economic and social variables as well as the different sectors of the regional economy that have been affected by the armed conflict that began in February of this year, presenting policy proposals to mitigate its impact on the recovery process following the COVID-19 crisis, which the region is still undergoing. The report includes updated estimates on the increase in poverty and extreme povert…

Post-COVID-19 Economic Aspects of Digital Transformation

The Case for Economic Restructuring Post-COVID-19 in the Caribbean

Since the global crisis of 2008-2009, there has been less confidence in the primacy of markets to lead sustainable development among developing countries in general and small island developing States (SIDS) in particular. It is acknowledged that markets need discipline and an institutional context that can support private gains while reducing social costs and delivering less inequality. Prompted by declining competitiveness in leading sectors, and a commitment to addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), governments in the subregion have been developing long-term plan…