November 2025

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...

March 2025

The 2023 Latin America report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: the imperative for health-centred climate-resilient development

By Stella M. Hartinger, Yasna K. Palmeiro-Silva, Camila Llerena-Cayo, Luciana Blanco-Villafuerte, Luis E. Escobar, Avriel Diaz, Juliana Helo Sarmiento, Andrés G. Lescano, Oscar Melo, David Rojas-Rueda, Bruno Takahashi, Max Callaghan, Francisco Chesini, Shouro Dasgupta, Carolina Gil Posse, Nelson Gouveia, Aline Martins de Carvalho, Zaray Miranda-Chacón, Nahid Mohajeri, Chrissie Pantoja, Elizabeth J. Z. Robinson, Maria Fernanda Salas, Raquel Santiago, Enzo Sauma, Mauricio Santos-Vega, Daniel Scamman, Milena Sergeeva, Tatiana Souza de Camargo, Cecilia Sorensen, Juan D. Umaña, Marisol Yglesias-González, Maria Walawender,...

December 2024

2024 is a record year for ETFs in Latin America, especially among pension funds

According to a report by ETFGI, this year will be historic for the global ETF sector. By the end of August, the industry reached a new all-time high of $13.99 billion in assets under management, surpassing the previous record of $13.61 billion. In the emerging markets of Latin America, the trend is similar, driven by increased liquidity in the region. This is particularly evident among the largest pension funds, whose managers have long used ETFs as one of their preferred...

Latin America Lags in Establishing Sovereign Funds, Report Finds

A recent report from the International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds investigated why Latin America lags behind other emerging markets in developing sovereign wealth funds beyond stabilization funds. “It is striking that, in Latin America today, there are 12 sovereign wealth funds, nearly all of which are traditional stabilization funds,” the report stated. Unlike most sovereign wealth funds, stabilization funds can be drawn on by governments to reduce the impact of volatile revenue on the economy. Because the assets in the funds might...

October 2024

Social pensions in the Americas: Recent developments

By International Social Security Association Ensuring adequate social security coverage for an ageing population is an important priority for governments and the global membership of the International Social Security Association (ISSA). Social pensions, also known as zero pillar or non-contributory pensions, complement contributory social insurance systems by providing a guaranteed source of income for people not adequately protected by other forms of social security. In doing so, they expand overall social protection and can be a powerful tool for combating...

September 2024

Improving Job Quality in Latin America: A Long Road Ahead

Job opportunities exist in Latin America and the Caribbean, but the quality of employment remains a significant challenge. According to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), urgent measures are needed to ensure workers can escape poverty and enjoy social protection. Latin America and the Caribbean face a persistent issue: while many people are employed, the quality of those jobs leaves much to be desired. According to the 2024 Better Jobs Index from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the region’s employment quality scores...

August 2024

Social pensions in the Americas: Recent developments

Ensuring adequate social security coverage for an ageing population is an important priority for governments and the global membership of the International Social Security Association (ISSA). Social pensions, also known as zero pillar or non-contributory pensions, complement contributory social insurance systems by providing a guaranteed source of income for people not adequately protected by other forms of social security. In doing so, they expand overall social protection and can be a powerful tool for combating old-age poverty, promoting social...

July 2024

Overcoming political short-termism in Latin America

Long before he became a leading theologian, Saint Augustine famously appealed to God: “Lord, grant me chastity and continence – but not yet.” It is an entreaty one can imagine governments in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) uttering. They know that their policymaking and planning must become more consistent and predictable. They recognize that their failure to implement lasting, credible reforms in areas ranging from taxation to pensions to education discourages investment and contributes to some of the world’s...

April 2024

Another brick on the Wall: On the Effects of Non-Contributory Pensions on Material and Subjective Well Being

By Rosangela Bando, Sebastian Galiani & Paul Gertler Public expenditures on non-contributory pensions are equivalent to at least 1 percent of GDP in several countries in Latin America and is expected to increase. We explore the effect of non-contributory pensions on the well-being of the beneficiary population by studying the Pensiones Alimentarias program established by law in Paraguay, which targets older adults living in poverty. Households with a beneficiary increased their level of consumption by 44 percent. The program improved...