Departamento de Economía

The Workshop in International Economics and Finance is a unique event that brings together top researchers and policymakers. It has done so for the last 25 years throughout the Americas and the Caribbean. Its goal is to gain a better understanding of the macroeconomic problems faced by Latin American countries and to encourage research on those subjects. Each year we discuss approximately ten academic papers in closed seminar-style sessions; some sessions of a less technical nature will be open to a broader audience with the active participation of high-ranking policymakers.  

Latin American economies face several challenges linking macroeconomic performance with institutional factors. Productivity growth has been stagnant for decades. Social insurance systems face the pressures of a demographic transition, a higher life expectancy, and labor markets with high levels of informality. Public finances are tightly linked to commodity cycles. While some economies successfully implemented inflation-targeting regimes and fiscal rules, others experience high inflation and/or debt distress when commodity exports fall.  

The workshop seeks to bring together researchers working on open economy macroeconomics issues pertaining to Latin America and the interplay between politics, institutional reforms, and macroeconomic management, broadly defined.