Latin America

Inclusive growth needs financial inclusion. Can Central Bank Digital Currency help?

By Amin Mohseni-Cheraghlou

1.7 billion adults remained unbanked as per the 2017 wave of Findex dataset, with large disparities in financial inclusion still existing across countries, gender, income, education, and rural-urban lines. CBDCs have the potential to enhance financial inclusion and reduce these disparities.

Chilean President Sebastián Piñera: COVID-19 solidarity offers hope for tackling climate change

By Nick Fouriezos

The Chilean leader joined other political, business, and health leaders at the annual conference hosted by the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center alongside the United Nations General Assembly. 

State of the Order: Assessing August 2021

The State of the Order breaks down the month's most important events impacting the democratic world order.

Addressing instability in Central America: Restrictions on civil liberties, violence, and climate change

By María Fernanda Bozmoski, María Eugenia Brizuela de Avila, Domingo Sadurní

Citizens across Latin America and the Caribbean are rising up in protest. Political frustration and economic stagnation are fueling social discontent exacerbated by the continued COVID-19 pandemic and the slow health response. In Central America, restrictions on civil liberties, high rates of gender-based violence and extortion, and worsening climate change are compounding the lack of economic opportunities and pervasive corruption seen in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.

The steep costs of missing US ambassadors in Latin America and the Caribbean

By Felipe Félix Méndez

The vacancies limit the Biden administration’s ability to engage with local leaders and civil society, support efforts to fight COVID-19, and gain leverage over China.

Haiti needs the world’s help. Now.

By Jason Marczak, Wazim Mowla

The world must learn from the mistakes of the past: funding failing to reach Haiti, subpar coordination with the Haitian people, and a relief effort that generated dependence on the international relief community.

Cuba’s protests have ebbed. But the forces that fueled them are as powerful as ever.

By Jason Marczak, Wazim Mowla

The street protests have calmed down, at least for now, but this is still a perilous moment for the island—with the Cuban people in need of continued backing.