Education and the development of digital competences in Latin America and the Caribbean

The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean considers the digital divide to be one of the structural gaps reflected in the development models of Latin America and the Caribbean. Despite the expansion of digital connectivity and equipment, gaps remain with regard to access, use of digital tools and especially competences that would allow the entire population to benefit from the opportunities of the digital age. It is essential to invest in people and their education from childhood to address this gap and advance towards digital inclusion as part of inclusive social development.…

Accessible versions of publications

The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, in line with its Disability Inclusion Strategy 2021–2025 (CEPALDIS), is producing accessible versions of publications to meet the accessibility needs of persons with visual impairments. With this in mind, documents that were not originally drafted in an accessible version should be assessed to determine the necessary adaptations, which could include adjustments to graphic elements and text to ensure compliance with accessibility criteria. Some accessible publications are part of CEPALDIS and are included in the ECLAC programme of wor…

Time for care in Latin America and the Caribbean: towards social and gender co-responsibility

This bulletin, prepared jointly by ECLAC and ILO, presents an analysis of the status of maternity, paternity and parental leave in Latin America and the Caribbean. It also outlines the challenge of advancing measures such as parental leave, long-term care leave and urgent leave, as well as the shortening of the working day and more flexible arrangements in terms of both hours and places of work. These regulatory tools should be made available to both men and women, since they are essential for the exercise of co-responsibility, the guarantee of the right to care and the achievement of gender e…

The Hummingbird Vol. 12 No. 3

Report of the Third meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean

The third meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean (Escazú Agreement) was held at the headquarters of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in Santiago, from 22 to 24 April 2024.…

The Hummingbird Vol. 12 No. 2

International Trade Outlook for Latin America and the Caribbean, 2024. Executive summary. Accessible version

This edition of the International Trade Outlook for Latin America and the Caribbean analyses how the complex global context, marked by increased protectionism, geopolitical tensions and shipping disruptions, is affecting the region’s international trade. It examines the role of international trade in regional food security —and the lack thereof, especially in the Caribbean— despite the region being the world’s leading net food exporter. It also analyses the role of modern services as a driver of exports. Recommendations for the development of modern services include reducing restrictions, harm…

Anuario Estadístico de América Latina y el Caribe 2024 = Statistical Yearbook for Latin America and the Caribbean 2024

En el Anuario Estadístico de América Latina y el Caribe de la CEPAL se presenta un conjunto de estadísticas básicas que caracterizan la situación económica, sociodemográfica y ambiental de la región referidas a un período particular. Las versiones impresa y web del Anuario incluyen una selección de cuadros y gráficos orientados a brindar un resumen de la información estadística desde la perspectiva regional, privilegiando la comparabilidad internacional de los datos, como es el caso de la información sobre pobreza y sobre cuentas nacionales en dólares elaboradas por la CEPAL. Esta versión se e…

Pecuária regenerativa: definição, caracterização e recomendações de políticas

O desenvolvimento sustentável da pecuária na América Latina e no Caribe pode ser potencializado através da adoção de sistemas que contribuam para regenerar os solos. Além de suas vantagens ambientais em comparação com a pecuária convencional, os sistemas regenerativos oferecem oportunidades para aumentar a rentabilidade dos estabelecimentos. Contudo, a falta de consenso sobre uma definição de pecuária regenerativa obstaculiza a articulação e a avaliação de marcos legais nesse âmbito. O presente documento procura atender a essa necessidade. Com base num exame dos principais enfoques referentes …

Economic Survey of Latin America and the Caribbean, 2024. Executive summary. Accessible version

Latin America and the Caribbean is mired in a decades-long growth trap, and further hampered by global and regional conditions that limit the space for macroeconomic policies to spur economic growth in the region. The results of the Economic Survey of Latin America and the Caribbean, 2024 reveal weaker job creation, especially in the formal sector, with young people, women, older persons, migrants and rural dwellers among the most likely to be informal workers. In addition, an intensification of climate change effects will drastically reduce the number of jobs created in the medium term if mit…

Sustainable inland transport connectivity indicators: Plurinational State of Bolivia, 2024

The Sustainable Inland Transport Connectivity Indicators (SITCIN) evaluate the efficiency of transport systems and the alignment of legal frameworks with international legal instruments for transport and border-crossing facilitation. SITCIN enables countries to track their progress in areas such as the implementation of regional or international conventions on transport, harmonization of national rules with UN legal instruments, achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Vienna Programme of Action. This tool was developed as part of the United Nations Development Account (UND…

Economic Survey of Latin America and the Caribbean, 2024. Executive summary. Accessible version

Latin America and the Caribbean is mired in a decades-long growth trap, and further hampered by global and regional conditions that limit the space for macroeconomic policies to spur economic growth in the region. The results of the Economic Survey of Latin America and the Caribbean, 2024 reveal weaker job creation, especially in the formal sector, with young people, women, older persons, migrants and rural dwellers among the most likely to be informal workers. In addition, an intensification of climate change effects will drastically reduce the number of jobs created in the medium term if mit…

Social Panorama of Latin America and the Caribbean, 2024. Executive summary. Accessible version

This edition of the Social Panorama of Latin America and the Caribbean, 2024 focuses on the challenges of non-contributory social protection in advancing towards inclusive social development in the region. Tackling the development crisis, inclusive social development gaps and changing risk structure demands progress towards universal, comprehensive, sustainable and resilient social protection systems. Non-contributory social protection policies are essential to fulfil the goals and functions of social protection systems: the protection of income, access to social services and labour inclusion.…

Guidelines for preparing accessible documents of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC): basic recommendations. Accessible version

The United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy is the outcome of a process launched by the Secretary-General in April 2018 to strengthen system-wide accessibility for persons with disabilities and the mainstreaming of their rights. The Strategy includes a system-wide policy for the coming decade and aims to establish an institutional framework for the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, among other international human rights instruments, and for the fulfilment of humanitarian and development commitments.…

Nearshoring in Mexico: diverse options for industrial upgrading

Mexico has been a “nearshoring” platform for the United  States (U.S.) economy on a regular basis in recent decades. However, the nature and degree of Mexico’s integration within North America, as well as its ability to create and capture value and innovation rents in its core domestic industries, have varied over time. Previous examples of nearshoring in Mexico in the automotive and textile and apparel industries, we well as regional trade agreements like NAFTA and USMCA and global trade conflicts such as the U.S.-China trade war, have made Mexico a likely candidate to take advantage of recen…

Road to Seville: reform proposals for FfD4 from the United Nations regional commissions

This policy brief, prepared by the five United Nations regional commissions, identifies the critical challenges faced by emerging and developing countries in closing the financing gap to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It highlights systemic shortcomings in the global financing framework, including unmet development finance commitments, high public debt and a financial system misaligned with sustainability needs. The brief outlines key strategies for reform, focusing on enhancing domestic public resources, improving debt sustainability and fostering inclusive economic growth.…

Provisional agenda. Special meeting of the Presiding Officers of the Regional Conference on Social Development in Latin America and the Caribbean

Annotated provisional agenda. Special meeting of the Presiding Officers of the Regional Conference on Social Development in Latin America and the Caribbean

Report of the Fortieth session of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean

Economic policy and climate change: carbon pricing in Latin America and the Caribbean

Carbon pricing is one of the public policy options for discouraging production activities and consumption patterns that generate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This study provides an overview of carbon pricing in Latin America and the Caribbean, along with other associated economic policies. It reviews the situation regarding explicit carbon pricing via carbon taxes and emissions trading systems and the use of implicit pricing through the inclusion of the social price of carbon in public investment project evaluation procedures. It draws attention to the fact that very little use is being mad…