Public Spending Policies in Latin America and the Caribbean: When Cyclicality Meets Rigidities

This report highlights structural differences in public spending policies between emerging markets and industrialized nations. Emerging markets commit to long-term (rigid) spending based on short-term (cyclical) economic conditions, causing challenges in addressing fiscal imbalances and prompting changes in public spending composition.

The World Bank came into formal existence in 1945 following the international ratification of the Bretton Woods agreements. It is a vital source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world. The organization’s activities are focused on education, health, agriculture and rural development, environmental protection, establishing and enforcing regulations, infrastructure development, governance and legal institutions development. The World Bank is made up of two unique development institutions owned by its 185 Member Countries. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) focuses on middle income and creditworthy poor countries and the International Development Association (IDA), which focuses on the poorest countries in the world.