Policy Dialogues for Post-pandemic Recovery

Latin America was one of the regions hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide. The sharp fall in economic activity and loss of jobs could exacerbate the weakening of potential growth seen since the end of the commodities super-cycle in 2015. This is due to the deterioration in the allocation of funds caused by the shutdown of businesses, the loss of job skills and human capital due to the rise in unemployment and informal labor, greater difficulties in matching the supply of labor with the demands of companies, as well as dwindling investments.

Thus, recovery will have to be supported by policies that underpin long-term productivity and growth. Some of these policies may focus on the sectors where there are opportunities for productivity gains through innovation, cluster development and/or public-private cooperation. On the one hand, there are the agricultural and agro-industry sectors where many countries in the region have comparative advantages that could be enhanced. And on the other, there is the tourism sector where the impact of the pandemic has been very significant and its economic recovery to pre-pandemic levels is only expected by 2023 or 2024. Finally, the digital industry expanded during the pandemic (an acceleration of a previously existing trend). Latin America has been the source of important technological start-ups that export services and generate quality employment. 

This seminar will discuss the results and policy recommendations of a series of papers specially prepared by CAF experts and guest specialists that apply to these three sectors. At the same time, a dialogue will be initiated with high-level government officials in the region regarding the challenges of designing and implementing these policies. 

Date: Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Time: 11:00 a.m. (Venezuela)

This event will be broadcast on this website