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PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to extend the literature on the relationship between inflation and inflation uncertainty by examining three Caribbean countries: the Bahamas, Barbados, and Jamaica.Design/methodology/approachARMA‐GARCH models are used to estimate inflation uncertainty along with Granger‐causality tests to infer the relationship between inflation and inflation uncertainty.FindingsThe results reveal that both the Bahamas and Jamaica exhibit a high degree of volatility persistence in response to inflationary shocks, while Barbados has a much lower persistence measure. Granger‐causality tests indicate that an increase in inflation has been a positive impact on inflation uncertainty for each country. However, an increase in inflation uncertainty yields a decrease in inflation in the case of Jamaica. In summary, the results for the Bahamas and Barbados support the Friedman‐Ball hypothesis, whereas the results for Jamaica support Holland's stabilization‐motive hypothesis.Research limitations/implicationsFuture research on inflation and inflation uncertainty can be extended to incorporate possible regime shifts associated with fiscal and monetary policy.Originality/valueThe study fills a void in the literature with respect to the inflation‐inflation uncertainty nexus for Caribbean countries. The results of the paper may be useful to policymakers in the formulation of fiscal and monetary policy.

Although the political landscape of Latin American and the Caribbean region is changing, intelligence democratization remains a constant challenge. The majority of the countries in the region have not achieved a tradeoff between operational effectiveness and democratic transparency and accountability. Militarism and militarization policies and practices—along with weak and ineffective institutions and corrupt, apathetic, and inexpert leaders—greatly contribute to this constant challenge.

Over the last decade, the countries of the Latin America and the Caribbean region experienced a deep economic and social transformation which lifted millions out of poverty and swelled the ranks of the middle class. Strong economic growth driven by both domestic reforms and a favorable global economic environment, was responsible for this progress. Complementary social programs, made possible by growing fiscal space, helped finance programs that supported the poor and disadvantaged. Economic tailwinds have now receded and much of the region is now working to hold on to the recent economic and social gains. Governments are having to adjust to the new global conditions which an increasing number of analysts are regarding as 'the new normal'. This means that the region will need to work harder to (i) revive economic growth through productivity gains and stable macroeconomic policies; (ii) invest in sustainable cities and infrastructure for an increasingly urban population; and (iii) help the poor get out of poverty through quality education and health services and affordable social protection programs.

The 1994 International Conference on Population and Development held in Cairo has generated widespread commitment to changing family planning programs from categorical and medically focused service organizations to reproductive health initiatives that embrace a wide range of social and human services. This article uses qualitative data analysis to review the experience of nine family planning association projects in the Latin American and Caribbean region that have made a successful organizational transition from services focused on family planning to a gender‐based and sexual health approach. A conceptual framework is proposed, including factors external to the organization. Factors that can promote a pilot intervention's becoming fully institutionalized include: the need for commitment from high‐level staff and members of the board of directors, the creation of partnerships with other agencies, and an emphasis on monitoring and evaluation. Lessons from this experience and their potential relevance to other settings are reviewed and discussed.

Latin America and the Caribbean (LCR) will be center stage in the global development debate as leaders from around the world convene in Lima, Peru for the annual meetings of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund. Critical progress in poverty reduction has been made in the region over the last decade. The region's bottom 40 percent of the population saw growth eclipsing that seen by the group in every other region in the world. However, a global slowdown in economic growth and activity challenges these positive strides. The stories in this report embody concrete successes of countries working together with the World Bank. Innovative development approaches were designed and implemented. Individuals, communities, countries, and even regions benefited from better health, education, governance, disaster risk management, and more.

The World Bank's work in Latin America and the Caribbean has one overriding priority: better lives for its people. All of us working at the Bank dream of a region where people can work and prosper. Where the next generation will live better than the current one; where kids get quality education and mothers quality health care; where individual circumstances at birth such as gender or being born in a rural area do not determine the chances of success in life; and where governments meet the demands of their population for transparency. We all dream of a region where poverty has been eliminated and the development process leads to shared prosperity.

The COVID-19 pandemic completely changed priorities and policy actions in Latin America and the Caribbean over the past year. The health emergency response became the first immediate challenge, focused on saving lives and mitigating the devastating effects of the pandemic as it progressed through the region. The World Bank Group stood side by side with governments, supporting health emergency efforts in 21 countries to contain the virus, its impact on the economy and, most importantly, protect the poor and most vulnerable.

In the past decade, Latin America and the Caribbean has achieved impressive social and economic successes. For the first time in history, more people are in the middle class than in poverty. Inequality, although still high, declined markedly. Growth, jobs and effective social programs have transformed the lives of millions. In a striking departure from the crisis-prone Latin America of the past, the region has shown it is better prepared to weather the brunt of the global economic slowdown. Now, the region faces the challenge of maintaining and expanding its hard won gains in an adverse context of low growth. This is caused in part by a decrease in commodity prices and reduced economic activity in major commercial partners such as China. In such a scenario, achieving development results - and learning from them - becomes more important. This publication showcases stories about people and how their lives have been improved through better health and education, youth employment, disaster recovery and preparedness, infrastructure, and more.