Director’s Briefing: Latin America’s development and investment challenges

In discussion with Dr Verónica Frisancho, Chief Economist, Latin American Bank of Development (CAF).

Partner and major corporate event, Director's Briefing
4 July 2023 — 8:00AM TO 9:15AM
Chatham House

Home to almost a tenth of the global population, but just a twentieth of global GDP, many Latin American economies have become caught in the middle-income trap of low productivity, slow economic growth and rising inequality. Despite variation across the region, these drags on growth have presented challenges to policymakers and investors.

The Latin American Bank of Development (CAF’s) landmark report examines in depth the links between the high and persistent inequality and intergenerational social mobility, and the related impediments to growth. Latin America remains among the most unequal regions in the world, at times despite high levels of economic growth.

Income inequality is not the only concern educational and jo opportunities, as well as savings and asset accumulation, are also very unequally distributed and strongly dependent on individuals’ family socioeconomic background. That lack of opportunities for all has served as a drag on broad-based, sustained economic growth and strong institutions.

Please join Dr Christopher Sabatini and Verónica Frisancho to discuss the report’s analysis and recommendations including:

  • What are the main hurdles for Latin American development and how can they be overcome?
  • How can higher intergenerational mobility can boost productivity and social cohesion?
  • How will foreign investment’s role continue to evolve in Latin America?