Using benchmarking to improve urban mobility: a new tool for building smart cities in emerging countries

Currently, smart city measurements and rankings often overlook key factors, such as size, population and economic tradition, leading to unrealistic goals being set when cities with different histories are compared with unattainable benchmarks. The present article argues that considering these factors can help city planners to achieve more efficient, incremental improvements. Focusing on mobility, this study compares a mid-sized city in southern Brazil with Aarhus, Denmark, a city of similar size and economic tradition. A diagnostic tool was developed to assess the urban mobility strengths and …

The centre-periphery model and the political economy of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean: past and present

This article is focused on the hypotheses of Raúl Prebisch and Hans Singer regarding the centre-periphery model, which is the cornerstone of development theory for peripheral countries. The article emphasizes aspects of theory and policy related to the political economy of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) from the early 1950s to the present. It shows how, since the 1980s, ECLAC economists —influenced by evolving neo-Schumpeterian models and equipped with sophisticated microeconomic instruments— have undertaken a critical appraisal of the import substitution m…

The effects of the coronavirus disease pandemic on the male and female labour supply in Brazil

Using an ordered probit model estimation and quarterly data for the 2018–2020 period from the Continuous National Household Sample Survey (Continuous PNAD), this study sets out to analyse the effects of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) health crisis on the supply of working hours by men and women in Brazil. The results suggest that the pandemic reduced the probability of men and women supplying larger numbers of working hours, and that women were most affected. In addition, having small children reduced the probability of mothers supplying larger numbers of working hours, while for men that …

CEPAL Review No. 144

The weakening of the developmental State in Brazil: an analysis of the political economy of the 1970s and 1980s

This article analyses the weakening of the developmental State and the consolidation of neoliberalism in Brazil that took place through the reconfiguration of interests between social classes and groups, as part of the process of the return to democracy and the struggle waged to install a less exclusionary Constitution. It argues that, unlike in central countries, where the transition to neoliberalism had to do above all with containing the rise of the working class, in Brazil, it took the form of an anti-nationalization vision that gained strength from the late 1970s onward and was driven mai…

Reflections from the Chinese perspective on Sino-Brazilian cooperation in the twenty-first century

Sino-Brazilian cooperation has advanced rapidly in the twenty-first century. Although its successes have made it a model for South-South cooperation, the relationship also faces many challenges. This study focuses on the trade imbalance and the resultant risk of “deindustrialization” for Brazil, proposing that fostering technology transfer in the context of investments and situating Chinese companies in Brazil are two ways to mitigate its negative effects. However, the main response to these challenges is well-defined, comprehensive development planning by the Brazilian State with a strong com…

Report of the activities carried out by the Latin American and Caribbean Institute for Economic and Social Planning (ILPES), 2023-2024

Urgent action to prevent and eliminate femicides

Gender-based violence against women and girls and its most extreme manifestation —femicides, feminicides or gender-related killings of women and girls— are a dramatic illustration of the persistent structural challenges of gender inequality that affect women and girls in Latin America and the Caribbean. Bulletin No. 3 on feminicidal violence presents the official statistics submitted by the region’s countries to the Gender Equality Observatory for Latin America and the Caribbean on cases of femicides, feminicides and gender-related killings of women reported in 2023. This bulletin is part of t…

The trap of high inequality and low social mobility in Latin America and the Caribbean: An obstacle for inclusive and sustainable social development

Extreme inequality, which characterizes Latin America and the Caribbean across multiple dimensions, constitutes a trap that hinders progress towards sustainable development. It is unacceptable from a rights and social justice perspective, counterproductive for economic growth, and corrosive for social cohesion and for the stability of social compacts. It also perpetuates two other structural development traps in the region: the inability to grow in the long term and low institutional and governance capacity. From an economics perspective, inequality is inefficient for a number of reasons. Acce…

Distributional implications of climate change and policy recommendations for an inclusive, just and sustainable transition

Inequality, both among and within countries, is a significant barrier to transitioning to low-carbon, climate-resilient economies. This is especially true in regions like Latin America and the Caribbean, where high levels of structural inequality persist. The multiple dimensions of inequality include differences in carbon footprints and varying vulnerabilities to climate impacts. Developing nations are disproportionately affected by climate change because of their reduced capacity to cope with its impacts owing to their economic structures, poor access to basic services and geography. A mix …

Growth and the distribution of its benefits: measurement and policy recommendations. ECLAC contribution to the G20 Framework Working Group

Addressing inequality fosters an enabling environment for innovation and capacity-building amid technological advancements, leading to economic growth and the strengthening of political institutions. Despite the increased focus on income inequality in recent years, its measurement remains a topic of discussion. This document highlights the need to improve the availability and timeliness of household surveys, national accounts and income tax records for a more complete picture of income distribution. Integrating these data sources through the construction of “distributional national accounts” p…

The Hummingbird Vol. 11 No. 11

Industrial policy trends in Germany

Industrial policy is firmly back on the international agenda and it comes in new forms. The general attitude of governments around the world has gone through phases: from outright rejection in some countries during the neoliberal phase to light-handed interventions in the early 2000s, and, increasingly, to deeper interventions over the last 10 to 15 years. Two trends are driving industrial policymaking of late, especially in the United States, China and Europe: decarbonization, which requires deep, government-led restructuring of various industries; and increasing geopolitical rivalry and supp…

Making peace with nature: Regional actions to mainstream and invest in biodiversity

The host country of the sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, Colombia, selected “Peace with nature” as the theme of the meeting. Peace with nature is of the utmost relevance for all regions, and its achievement is not just an environmental necessity but a socioeconomic imperative. Biodiversity underpins ecosystem services that are vital for human survival, economic prosperity and social well-being. Peace with nature requires just and transformative changes in economic, social and governance systems.…

The cost of the double burden of malnutrition: main social and economic impacts in eight Latin American countries

The countries of Latin America and the Caribbean are in the midst of a demographic, epidemiological and nutritional transition, as rates of life expectancy, population ageing and chronic diseases are on the rise and there is a marked shift from undernutrition to a combination of the latter with overweight and obesity. Beyond the social impact of this process and the infringement of the rights of those affected by it, there are significant economic costs for society at large. To address these transitions and ensure the right to food and nutrition security for the entire population, evidencebase…

Reducing Inequality and Pursuing Inclusive Social Development in Latin America and the Caribbean: Challenges, Priorities and Key Messages in preparation for the Second World Summit for Social Development

In the 30 years since the World Summit for Social Development held in Copenhagen, inclusive social development has played an increasingly central role in the region’s policies, institutions and performance. However, big challenges remain as new risks are emerging, and these must be addressed with new agreements and better policies to achieve inclusion and ensure the exercise of social rights, as recommended in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Amid the major changes, various crises and new conflicts under way, the Second World Summit for Social Development, to be held in 2025, repre…

The urgency of investing in health systems in Latin America and the Caribbean to reduce inequality and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals

This report by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is being published with six years left to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The combination of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and interrelated and cascading crises has provoked an alarming situation that threatens the attainment of the SDGs globally and in the countries of the region. The multidimensional effects of the pandemic stalled actions linked to achieving various SDGs, causing a regre…

Inclusive Migration Governance in the Americas and Caribbean: A Primer for Parliamentarians

Throughout history, migration has been a fundamental part of human development, presenting with it many opportunities and challenges for both individuals and States. Over the last 50 years, the share of migrants among the world population has remained relatively stable, rising from 2.3 percent in 1970 to 3.6 percent in 2020. As the global population has increased, the number of migrants has also grown significantly – from 84 million in 1970 to 281 million in 2020 – along with unequal distribution across regions. Coupled with increasingly complex drivers of migration, such as climate change, th…

New objectives, same rationales: shifts in the United Kingdom’s industrial strategies?

This report tracks the development of the Industrial Strategy of the United Kingdom, from its publication in 2017 through to the period following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Using information from official policy documents, grey literature and academic publications —as well as conversations with experts— this document provides an overview of the Strategy’s rationales and objectives and of the instruments adopted under it. The report also discusses implementation challenges and presents lessons for the future design and implementation of industrial strategies. Following the wit…

United States economic outlook: first half of 2024

The United States economy expanded at an annualized rate of 3.0% in the second quarter of 2024 —more than double the 1.4% GDP growth recorded in the first quarter and well above the economy’s long-term growth potential—, driven primarily by consumer spending. The resilience of consumer spending has been supported by receding inflation and a robust labour market. Inflation slowed to 2.5% in August 2024, the lowest level in more than three years. Employment has increased for 44 consecutive months, but the labour market is softening. The Federal Reserve announced an interest rate cut of 0.50% in …