Patricia Yañez-Pagans is a Lead Economist in the Development Effectiveness Division (DVF) of IDB Invest, where she oversees the ex-post evaluation of projects and the knowledge and impact evaluation’s agenda. Before joining IDB Invest, she worked as an Economist in the Office of Strategic Planning and Development Effectiveness of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and was Professor of Economics at the Universidad Católica Bolivia. She has also worked as a consultant on evaluation topics for different institutions, including UNICEF and UDAPE of the Bolivian Ministry of Development Planning, the IDB Research Department and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Patricia holds a Ph.D. in Applied Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a Master’s in Applied Economics from Pompeu Fabra University, and a Master's in Social Policy and Development from the London School of Economics.
For most women-led MSMEs simply getting a loan is a struggle. What happens to those that do? Do their businesses grow and create jobs? For banks in the region, capturing information about the impact of these loans can help them better serve women and tap into the growing impact investing market.
Only about a quarter of Colombian companies created in 2017 were still operating in 2022, of which only 6% (4,600) grew. What are the drivers behind businesses that not only survive but thrive? Our new report with Confecámaras starts digging into the data, focusing on growth factors, job creation, and gender gaps.
Access to universal and meaningful broadband internet is a must for boosting economic growth and reducing the digital divide in Latin America and the Caribbean. It can also boost access to finance for the most excluded segment of the credit market: micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). A recent study supported by IDB and IDB Invest analyzed the effects of broadband expansion on the credit market in Peru, finding that smaller firms with limited credit histories benefited the most.
Multilateral development banks play a critical role in catalyzing private sector investment towards impact, which calls for robust impact management approaches. In addition to sharing how we do it (impact management practice), reporting on how we are doing (impact performance) is an essential element of our Impact Management Framework at IDB Invest, which we do annually through our Development Effectiveness Overview.
Energy efficiency is critical for Latin America and the Caribbean, historically characterized by high energy consumption and low productivity. Lessons learned from promoting energy efficiency practices among firms can help guide strategies moving forward.
Unconscious or not, gender biases leave millions of women on the sidelines of financial inclusion, and millions of dollars in foregone profits for banks on the table. Reducing gender bias in lending is key as the pandemic recedes, so that women-led businesses help to propel the recovery.