Latin American Economic Outlook 2024 Financing Sustainable Development

Book excerpt: In order to fund their ambitious sustainable development agendas, Latin American and Caribbean countries need to expand their financing sources. This 17th edition of the Latin American Economic Outlook proposes a series of policy options to mobilise the necessary resources, based on co-ordinated actions between policy makers, the private sector and their international partners. It argues that public resources should be invested more efficiently, tax better collected and debt better managed. Even with those improvements, private resources will be equally crucial, as public revenues will not be enough to fund the deep transformations the region needs. The depth, access, inclusiveness and efficiency of financial systems must improve further, especially for the benefit of citizens and smaller firms. Businesses need stronger capital markets to finance their long-term investment projects. The report’s recommendations include the use of innovative financial instruments; renewing the role of development finance institutions; reinvigorated international partnerships to mobilise external resources; and the adoption of a shared regional agenda to address the challenging international financing context.