The challenges of Colombia and the region in creating opportunities for progress

(Bogota, March 5, 2008).- Despite the improvements achieved in some social indicators in recent decades, one of the main challenges that persists in the region is the limited social mobility, as described in the fourth edition of Report on Economy and Development (RED) 2007-2008 titled Opportunities in Latin America: toward a better social policy.

This report by the Andean Development Corporation offers diagnoses and recommendations in the light of recent evaluations of the successes and failures of public policy in the region, and proposes guidelines for increasing the efficiency of expenditure. It also contains a cross-sectional analysis on the necessary institutions and funding of social policy.

RED 2007-2008 emphasizes the importance of public intervention for achieving an integrated economic and social policy, as well as the need for a permanent and sustainable improvement of the efficiency of social policy with a long-term view.

CAF and Banco de la República will present the most important conclusions of this report on March 11 at 8:30 am in the Luis Ángel Arango Library in Bogota.

The presentation of the publication will take place in the company of Freddy Rojas Parra, CAF representative for Colombia; Luis Miguel Castilla, CAF chief economist; Diego Palacio, minister of Social Protection; Alejandro Gaviria, Dean of the University of the Andes; Carmen Pagés, IDB economist; and José Darío Uribe, general manager of Banco de la República.