The World Bank
Latin American countries have made substantial progress toward reducing poverty and increasing equality, yet the region still faces significant hurdles to achieving prosperity across the board. In a recent report, “Shifting Gears to Accelerate Shared Prosperity,” the World Bank concludes that GDP and job growth have had the greatest impact on reducing poverty. It warns that without a new set of fiscal and social reforms to address continued income gaps—including policies to strengthen transparent institutions, create healthy markets accessible to all and improve risk management—the region risks backtracking on recent advances, especially if faced with economic shocks or severe weather brought on by climate change.
Plataforma Democrática
Power balances have shifted globally, and Brazil, with the largest economy in Latin America, has emerged as a leading economic force in the region. In its recent report “O Brasil e a Governança da América Latina: Que Tipo de Liderança é Possível?”, Plataforma Democrática, the research arm of the Fundação Instituto Fernando Henrique Cardoso, analyzes Brazil’s role as a regional leader. Written by scholars and policymakers, the report looks at Brazil’s investment prospects, the potential for regional energy collaboration, challenges of physical integration in Latin America, China’s growing role in the region, and border security, and examines Brazil’s potential to shape both regional politics and Latin America’s global presence.
The Atlantic Council
As Europe struggles to renew economic growth, Latin America’s increasingly competitive economies have become a powerful force for recasting the traditional two-way trans-Atlantic relationship between the U.S. and Europe. A new report by The Atlantic Council, “The Tri-Lateral Bond: Mapping a new era for Latin America, the United States, and Europe,” examines how Latin America, Europe and the U.S. can build upon shared values to strengthen their economies and trans-Atlantic relations. The report specifically looks at opportuniuties to integrate financial markets, improve education and technology exchanges, manage natural resources, address transnational crime, and expand Latin America’s participation in global governance institutions, among other issues.
