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WASHINGTON, 30 de marzo de 2017 – Un nuevo análisis del Banco Mundial divulgado hoy en una conferencia organizada de manera conjunta con el Miami Herald, El Dilema Caribeño, resalta los desafíos en común que enfrentan las economías pequeñas e identifica soluciones compartidas en pos de generar crecimiento sostenible en la región. “El Caribe tiene un potencial económico y oportunidades de crecimiento enormes”, dijo Tahseen Sayed, Directora del Banco Mundial para el Caribe. “Esta conferencia adopta una visión a largo plazo y se centra en aquellas prioridades y políticas esenciales para fomentar el crecimiento, basándose en las enseñanzas que dejan otras economías pequeñas”. Un nuevo estudio del Banco Mundial, “Abiertas y ágiles: buscando el crecimiento estable en economías pequeñas”, revela que el tamaño de una economía, medido según el tamaño de la población en edad de trabajar, no es importante para el desarrollo y el crecimiento económico en los países de América Latina y el Caribe. De hecho, algunas de las economías más pequeñas de América Latina y el Caribe como Panamá y la República Dominicana están creciendo mucho más rápido que los gigantes de la región. “El análisis revela que si bien las economías pequeñas son más abiertas al comercio y la inversión extranjera, y están altamente especializadas en su sector exportador, también son más ágiles y capaces de cambiar la estructura de sus economías y exportaciones con el paso del tiempo”, dijo Daniel Lederman, Economista en Jefe Interino del Banco Mundial y autor principal del informe. “Ser más ágiles las ayuda a permanecer competitivas a la hora de enfrentar turbulencias externas. De hecho, economías pequeñas como Costa Rica y los países del Caribe han tenido más éxito al momento de reinventarse que las economías más grandes”. Otro informe del Banco Mundial, “Dominando la volatilidad: política fiscal y desarrollo financiero para el crecimiento en el Caribe oriental”, muestra que los países de la Organización de los Estados del Caribe Oriental (OECO) experimentaron un crecimiento volátil debido a su apertura al comercio, escasa diversificación productiva, exposición a los peligros naturales y sus políticas fiscales. “El turismo es la industria más importante en la OECO, la cual varía desde un 26 por ciento del PIB en San Vicente y las Granadinas a 74 por ciento del PIB en Antigua y Barbuda. Dado que son economías pequeñas, es difícil diversificar sus motores de crecimiento, tornándolas particularmente susceptibles a la volatilidad comercial”, dijo Francisco Carneiro, Economista Principal del Banco Mundial para el Caribe. Los autores identifican prioridades claves para el fomento del crecimiento sostenible en el Caribe y otras economías pequeñas:Una mayor integración regional para compartir costos y repartir riesgos promovería el crecimiento estable. Las pequeñas economías muchas veces carecen de recursos para realizar grandes inversiones públicas. Invertir en servicios públicos compartidos, como infraestructura de transporte regional, permitiría repartir riesgos y mejorar la conectividad en la región. El Mecanismo de Seguros contra Riesgos Catastróficos del Caribe es un ejemplo de un mecanismo de reparto de riesgos efectivo e interesante capaz de movilizar fondos de emergencia en las dos semanas posteriores a un desastre.Una política fiscal contracíclica puede ayudar a mitigar el impacto de la volatilidad comercial en la OECO. La adopción de leyes de responsabilidad fiscal y normas fiscales es clave para estos países, permitiéndoles ahorrar más en tiempos de bonanza para así poder enfrentar desastres naturales o impactos económicos. Granada está dando el ejemplo en la región con la reciente adopción de un marco fiscal a mediano plazo anclado en reglas claras para el gasto.Alcanzar un sector financiero más fuerte sigue siendo una prioridad, en particular entre los países del Caribe Oriental. Se promulgó una nueva Ley Bancaria para mejorar la vigilancia bancaria y la consolidación futura, un paso importante hacia la mejora del acceso al financiamiento.

Entidades sem fins lucrativos de todo o Brasil, da América Latina e Caribe podem inscrever iniciativas até 31 de maio Iniciativas capazes de gerar soluções para desafios sociais podem se inscrever na 9ª edição do Prêmio Fundação Banco do Brasil de Tecnologia Social 2017, até 31 de maio. A participação é aberta a instituições sem fins lucrativos, como fundações, organizações da sociedade civil, instituições de ensino e pesquisa, legalmente constituídas no Brasil, de direito público ou privado, e que tenham sua iniciativa desenvolvida no País.  Nesta edição, o Prêmio terá seis categorias nacionais: "Água e Meio Ambiente"; "Agroecologia"; "Economia Solidária"; "Educação"; "Saúde e Bem-Estar"; "Cidades Sustentáveis e Inovação Digital". O primeiro lugar de cada uma das categorias será premiado com R$ 50 mil e as 18 instituições finalistas vão receber troféu e vídeo retratando sua iniciativa. Além disso, as tecnologias sociais que promovem o protagonismo e o empoderamento feminino vão receber um bônus de cinco por cento na pontuação total obtida. A novidade deste ano é a categoria internacional " Água e Meio Ambiente, Agroecologia ou Cidades Sustentáveis", destinada a iniciativas realizadas em um ou mais países da América Latina e do Caribe, e que possam ser reaplicadas no Brasil. Serão três finalistas – a vencedora será conhecida na premiação, em novembro. Todas as categorias são relacionadas aos Objetivos do Desenvolvimento Sustentável – ODS. Realizado a cada dois anos, o Prêmio é considerado um dos principais do terceiro setor no País. Este ano, o concurso tem a cooperação da UNESCO no Brasil e o apoio do Banco de Desenvolvimento da América Latina (CAF), do Banco Mundial, da Organização das Nações Unidas para a Alimentação e a Agricultura (FAO) e do Programa das Nações Unidas para o Desenvolvimento (PNUD). Representantes das experiências finalistas participarão também do Fórum Internacional de Tecnologia Social, a ser realizado em Brasília (DF), em novembro deste ano, que contará com a presença de especialistas no tema. Entidades de tecnologias certificadas, integrantes do Banco de Tecnologias Sociais (BTS), também serão convidadas. O objetivo do encontro é debater o conceito de tecnologia social como instrumento do desenvolvimento sustentável. Para serem certificadas, as iniciativas precisam ser reconhecidas como soluções capazes de causar impacto positivo e efetivo na vida das pessoas, já implementadas em âmbito local, regional ou nacional e passíveis de serem reaplicadas.  As metodologias certificadas passam a integrar o BTS da Fundação BB, que tem 850 iniciativas. O banco é uma base de dados online que reúne metodologias reconhecidas por promoverem a resolução de problemas comuns às diversas comunidades brasileiras. No acervo, as experiências desenvolvidas por instituições de todo o País podem ser consultadas por tema, entidade executora, público-alvo, região, dentre outros parâmetros de pesquisa. O conteúdo está disponível também nas versões em inglês, francês e espanhol e pode ser consultado no celular, pelos sistemas operacionais iOS e Android. Os resultados de cada etapa do Prêmio serão divulgados no site da Fundação Banco do Brasil e no BTS. Visite o site do Prêmio Fundação Banco do Brasil de Tecnologia Social 2017

In contrast to the bigger economies in Latin America, the small island developing states of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) have been enjoying something of a growth rebound over the past five years. However, given its openness to trade and dependence on external economies, the region remains highly vulnerable to shocks. We talked to World Bank macroeconomics expert, Francisco Carneiro, about what needs to be done to tame this volatility in the Eastern Caribbean. Question: How sustainable is the increased growth the OECS is seeing at the moment? Francisco Carneiro: While the most recent growth acceleration in the OECS is of course good news, growth in the OECS has been historically volatile. This is due to a number of internal and external factors ranging from their exposure to hurricanes and tropical storms, to the way they manage their economies. This upturn  is certainly associated with the improving economic performance in the countries which send the greatest number of tourists to the OECS – the US, Canada and the UK. . However, as is the case in other small states, any turbulence in their main source of revenues can spell trouble and it is important to build buffers to deal with difficult times. Q: Does that mean it’s a good time to put counter-cyclical policies into place? FC: Yes, now is a good moment to start thinking about how the region could enact policies to help them withstand more difficult times. This could be done through a gradual shift to what economists call a more “counter-cyclical” fiscal policy – or the ability to “lean against the wind”; that is, the ability to save more during good times so there are funds left to stimulate the economy during bad times. The region is receptive to that idea. A good example is Grenada, where a medium-term fiscal framework anchored on clear spending rules has already been passed. This is certainly an example to be followed in the region. Q: In your report Taming Volatility  you mention that there is a track record of pro-cyclical government spending in emerging economies across the region, and yet the OECS is far more volatile. Are the nations “suffering from their smallness?” FC: The fact that most developing economies find it difficult to shift to more counter-cyclical government spending is more closely associated with the quality and strength of their institutions. The point we make in the report is that the more pro-cyclical your fiscal policy is, the more volatile your economic growth will be. That’s because when public spending follows the business cycle, it tends to accentuate crises and economic downturns. Countries should therefore seek ways to build buffers during the good times to “lean against the wind” in bad times. This could be done by adopting fiscal rules like Grenada has recently done, in spite of its relative small size. Q: Tourism is the most important industry in the OECS, and yet it’s also highly vulnerable to external shocks. Just how much headway can the OECS make in taming volatility if up to 70% of GDP is from tourism?   FC: Volatility is the result of external and internal factors. While it’s difficult to avoid external factors, which are beyond any government’s control –  for example, a hurricane or a global financial crisis –  OECS countries could further strengthen their financial sector as well as making their fiscal policy stance more counter-cyclical. Further financial development can come about by restoring the stability in the banking sector which will help reduce systemic volatility. Additionally, improving savings instruments by introducing channels for long-term financing in the region, strengthening the regional insurance market by creating a single financial space in the region in which insurance companies can operate  and establishing stronger supervision and deposit insurance, so people don’t lose their savings in a crisis, could all help reduce volatility. What is the World Bank doing to tackle these issues? FC: The World Bank Group is a major development partner of OECS countries and is supporting them to strengthen their financial sectors along with the institutions that could contribute to building greater resilience to economic and natural shocks.  

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WASHINGTON, March 30, 2017 – New World Bank analysis launched today at a conference co-organized with the Miami Herald “The Caribbean Dilemma” highlights common challenges faced by small economies and identify shared solutions to generate sustainable growth in the region. “The Caribbean has tremendous economic potential and growth opportunities”, said Tahseen Sayed, World Bank Country Director for the Caribbean. “This conference takes a long-term view and focuses on key priorities and policies for the region that can help boost growth, building on lessons from other small economies". A new World Bank study “Open and Nimble: Finding Stable Growth in Small Economies” shows that economic size measured by the size of working age population does not matter to the development and economic growth of countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. In fact, some of the smaller economies in Latin America and the Caribbean such as Panama and the Dominican Republic are growing much faster than the region’s giants. “The analysis shows that while small economies are more open to trade and foreign investment, and highly specialized in their export sectors, they are also more nimble and able to change the structure of their economies and exports overtime”, said Daniel Lederman, World Bank Deputy Chief Economist and lead author of the report. “Being more nimble can help them remain competitive when facing external shocks. In fact, small economies such as Costa Rica and Caribbean countries have been more successful in reinventing themselves than larger economies”. Another World Bank report “Taming volatility: Fiscal Policy and Financial Development for Growth in the Eastern Caribbean” shows that countries in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)  experienced volatile growth due to  their openness to trade, limited economic diversification, exposure to natural hazards, and fiscal policies. “Tourism is the most important industry in the OECS, ranging from 26 percent of GDP in St Vincent and the Grenadines to 74 percent of GDP in Antigua and Barbuda. Because these are small economies, diversifying sources of growth and revenue is difficult, which makes them particularly vulnerable to trade volatility”, said Francisco Carneiro, World Bank Lead Economist for the Caribbean. The authors lay out key priorities to promote sustainable growth in the Caribbean and other small economies:Deeper regional integration to allow cost sharing and risk pooling would promote stable growth. Small economies often lack the resources to make large public investments. Investing in shared public services, such as a regional transportation infrastructure, would allow cost pooling and improve connectivity in the region. The Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility is an example of effective and attractive risk pooling mechanism able to mobilize emergency funds within the first two weeks of a disaster.Counter-cyclical fiscal policy can help mitigate the impact of trade volatility in the OECS. Adopting fiscal responsibility laws and fiscal rules is key for these countries, allowing them to save more during good times in case natural disasters or economic shocks occur. Grenada is setting the example in the region and recently adopted a medium-term fiscal framework anchored on clear spending rules.A stronger financial sector remains a priority, particularly for Eastern Caribbean countries. A new Banking Act to improve banking supervision and future consolidation has been passed, which is an important step to improve access to finance.     

WASHINGTON, 2 de abril de 2017 – El Grupo Banco Mundial emitió hoy la siguiente declaración del Presidente del Grupo del Banco Mundial, Jim Yong Kim, sobre los derrumbes y deslaves en Colombia acaecidos el sábado 1 de abril de 2017: "El Grupo Banco Mundial está profundamente entristecido por los devastadores derrumbes e inundaciones que quitaron la vida a tantos en Colombia. A nombre del personal que labora en esta institución, deseo transmitir nuestras más sinceras condolencias a las familias que han perdido a sus seres queridos. Nuestros pensamientos están con el pueblo colombiano, el Gobierno y los voluntarios que participan en los esfuerzos de rescate. El Grupo Banco Mundial trabajará con las autoridades pertinentes para evaluar cómo podemos apoyar a Colombia tanto en el corto plazo como en las necesidades de reconstrucción”.  

WASHINGTON, March 31, 2017 – The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved the following project:Guyana– Guyana Payments System Project IDA Credit: US$6 million Terms: Maturity = 25 years, Grace = 5 years Project ID: P159512 Project Description:  The objective of the project is to improve Guyana’s national payments system by enhancing safety and efficiency of payments.

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Challenge In 2009, the Dominican health system suffered from lower than average mother and child outcomes as compared with other Latin American countries: many families lacked health insurance, and chronic diseases were emerging as a new challe…

WASHINGTON, April 2, 2017 — The World Bank Group today issued the following statement from World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim on the mudslides in Colombia on Saturday, April 1, 2017: “The World Bank Group is deeply saddened by the devastating mudslides and flooding in Colombia that have taken the lives of so many. On behalf of my staff, I wish to convey our sincere and most heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost loved ones. Our thoughts are with the Colombian people and government, and the volunteers participating in the rescue efforts. The World Bank Group will work with the relevant authorities to evaluate how we can support Colombia both in the short-term as well as with reconstruction needs.”  

El aumento de viajeros hacia el continente puede aliviar el éxodo generalizado hacia las ciudades y potenciar el desarrollo sostenible

El aumento de viajeros puede aliviar el éxodo hacia las ciudades y potenciar el desarrollo