April 2026

The Gray Tide: Latin America’s Demographic Transformation

For more than 25 years, Jardín Sonrisitas (“Little Smiles Kindergarten”) taught kids their ABCs in Villa del Cerro, a working-class portside district in Uruguay’s capital. But in December, the beloved kindergarten closed: one of three local creches to shut in as many years. Today, the building’s shutters are pulled down, its outdoor play equipment piled to one side. The reason is simple, said Catalina Clara, 38, whose six-year-old daughter was one of the last four students: “People aren’t having many...

2024 Labour Overview of Latin America and the Caribbean

By International Labour Organization Five years after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the labour market outlook for Latin America and the Caribbean in 2024 shows relative stability in its main labour market indicators. In line with the moderate pace of economic growth, the employment rate increased slightly in 2024 compared with the previous year. Labour supply, as measured by the participation rate - the percentage of people of working age who are working or looking for a job...

How we bridge the gap in climate innovation and investment in Latin America

By Georgina Mondino & Maximiliano Frey Latin America still attracts only a small share of global venture capital – just 2%– which helps explain why only five of its cities appear in StartupBlink’s latest Global Startup Ecosystem Index among the top 100 innovation hubs: São Paulo, Mexico City, Bogotá, Santiago and Buenos Aires. But the region is rich in ideas, talent and purpose-driven entrepreneurs who have already proven their ability to create value on a global scale. Over the past decade, Argentina...

January 2026

Why Latin America funds are on a hot streak

Brazil’s stock market index, the Ibovespa, rose by 8.5% last week, taking its month-to-date gain to 11% and extending the momentum built up over the course of last year. After a difficult 2024, when it fell by 10%, the Brazilian market recovered strongly in 2025. Global interest rates had started to ease and investors were turning back towards emerging markets in search of higher returns. The index ended the year up 34%. Overseas investors would have seen even larger gains as Brazil’s...

December 2025

Why is inequality so high in Latin America? An interview with Francisco H. G. Ferreira

Economic inequality in Latin America has historically been – and is currently – higher than in much of the rest of the world. For a time, it seemed that large pro-poor programmes, particularly conditional cash transfers (CCTs) – conditional mainly on attending schools and health visits – made some dent on inequality. Such CCTs were pioneered in Mexico, though it has now discontinued that policy, and have been pursued in a major way in Brazil, Colombia, Chile and elsewhere....

November 2025

Financial sustainability for the expansion of non-contributory pension systems and the eradication of old-age poverty

By Alberto Arenas de Mesa, Ernesto Espíndola & Juan Ignacio Vila Income protection is a substantive factor and a priority of social protection systems in Latin America and the Caribbean, in particular at either end of the life cycle (i.e. childhood and old age). This is due to the greater vulnerability and lower earning capacity of these population segments compared with other age groups, among other factors (Santos Garcia, Farías and Robles, 2023). In these circumstances, pension systems, in particular...

Pensions: an urgent call

For most Latin Americans, the most effective way to ensure an income in old age is through pension systems. They work differently in each country, but for the average citizen they represent their main source of livelihood in the last stage of their life. However, despite their importance, most people do not know how they work, or because of their design, many of them are at risk of not being sustainable in the long term. "Saving is a very difficult thing....

How to Understand Pension Systems and Social Security? The ABCs of Pensions in Latin America and the Caribbean

By Waldo Andres Tapia Troncoso & Daniel Gamboa Rinckoar Pension systems are fundamental pillars of both present and future well-being for populations in any society. But what exactly are they, and how do they work in Latin America and the Caribbean? In this article, we break down the "ABCs"—the essential basics you need to understand pension systems in the region. We also provide a guide to their structure, how they function, and the challenges they face in the Latin American and...

Boom of Private Markets in Latin America: What Trends Are We Seeing?

“Latin America’s Private Markets—Particularly in Private Equity, Venture Capital, and Infrastructure—Are Entering a New Phase of Maturity. According to a report by J.P. Morgan Private Bank, Latin America is no longer seen merely as a source of isolated opportunities but as a structurally relevant market. Although capital flows have decreased compared to the peaks of 2021, the resilience of funds and institutional consolidation are strengthening the foundation of the investment ecosystem. The pandemic was a transformative catalyst. During those years,...

July 2025

Latin America has the fastest aging population in world

Uruguay is experiencing one of the most significant demographic transformations in Latin America, driven by a declining birthrate and an aging population. According to projections from the National Institute of Statistics, the country's total fertility rate dropped to 1.27 children per woman in 2023 and is expected to fall to 1.20 by the end of this year -- well below the replacement-level threshold of 2.1. The population, which peaked at 3.51 million people in 2020, is projected to decline steadily, falling...