News

Working paper in academic journal | US uncertainty shocks, credit, production, and prices: The case of fourteen Latin American countries

We are pleased to share a new publication in the academic journal Research in International Business and Finance, featuring the study: “US uncertainty shocks, credit, production, and prices: The case of fourteen Latin American countries,” authored by Carlos Giraldo, Iader Giraldo-Salazar, Jose E. Gomez-Gonzalez, and Jorge M. Uribe.

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Working paper in academic journal | US uncertainty shocks, credit, production, and prices: The case of fourteen Latin American countries

We are pleased to share a new publication in the academic journal Research in International Business and Finance, featuring the study: “US uncertainty shocks, credit, production, and prices: The case of fourteen Latin American countries,” authored by Carlos Giraldo, Iader Giraldo-Salazar, Jose E. Gomez-Gonzalez, and Jorge M. Uribe.

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Working paper in academic journal | The adoption of fast payment systems (FPS) in Latin America: the role of financial literacy and cash-related beliefs

We are pleased to share a new publication in the academic journal International Journal of Bank Marketing. This time, it features the research titled “The adoption of fast payment systems (FPS) in Latin America: the role of financial literacy and cash-related beliefs”, authored by Carlos Giraldo, Iader Giraldo, Mauricio Losada-Otálora, and Nathalie Peña-García.

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Press Release | Climate Change and Financial Stability in Focus at 9th Joint RFA Research Seminar

On May 16, 2025, the 9th Joint RFA Research Seminar took place in Medellín, co-organized by FLAR, AMRO, and ESM.
The event brought together experts from international financial organizations, central banks, finance ministries, and academia to discuss the impact of climate change on macroeconomic stability, financial system resilience, and public finances and sovereign risk.

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New Working Paper | The Impact of Colombia’s Gross Leverage Position in Foreign Exchange Derivatives on Housing Market Stability

Housing prices are among the most crucial determinants of a country’s financial and macroeconomic stability. As a key macroeconomic indicator, they significantly influence both consumption and investment, shaping economic and financial cycles. Given that housing represents a substantial share of household wealth, price fluctuations have far-reaching effects on consumption, savings, and labor market decisions.

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New Working Paper | R&D Investment and Financial Stability

We examine the relationship between a country’s level of investment in research and development (R&D) and financial stability. Our findings emphasize the importance of a balanced fiscal strategy that reconciles the urgency of short-term fiscal consolidation with the pursuit of long-term economic growth and productivity.

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FLARblog | Balancing R&D and Financial Stability: Strategic Cuts in Fiscal Consolidation

In recent years, fiscal matters have taken center stage in both academic research and economic policy debates. This heightened focus is largely a consequence of the significant rise in public debt levels observed across advanced and emerging economies in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, the sharp increase in inflation experienced in many countries led central banks to implement substantial hikes in policy interest rates.

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FLARblog | Latin America in 2024: Macroeconomic stability in a shifting and complex global context

Latin America faced a mixed economic outlook in 2024 amid a slight global economic slowdown driven by geopolitical tensions and uneven performance among major global economies. The region’s economic growth outpaced initial projections (2.3% compared to 1.8% forecasted), supported by resilient external capital flows, robust financial systems, and monetary policies that helped bring inflation closer to target levels.

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FLARblog | The adoption of Fast Payment Systems (FPS): The role of financial literacy and cash-related beliefs

The financial landscape in Latin America is undergoing a transformative shift with the growing adoption of Fast Payment Systems (FPS). These systems, which facilitate real-time or near-real-time financial transactions 24/7, offer numerous advantages over traditional payment methods, such as cash and cards. With features like low transaction costs, accessibility, and immediate availability of funds, FPS is poised to revolutionize how payments are conducted.

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FLARblog | Evolution and outlook for the U.S., Eurozone, and China: Mixed economic implications for Latin America

Throughout the year, the global economy has experienced a slight deceleration in growth compared to 2023, accompanied by inflation rates aligning more closely with target levels. This trend has enabled central banks in the Eurozone and the United States to initiate reductions in interest rates. For Latin America, this development has led to a decline in the prices of most commodities—although they remain elevated—while external financing costs have gradually decreased, particularly in the second half of the year.

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FLARblog | Latin America in 2024Q3: Financing Decompression and 2.1% Regional GDP Growth

In the past three months, Latin America has faced reduced external and domestic financing constraints, supported by lower interest rates driven by easing inflation in most countries. This context has enabled us to revise the region’s annual growth projection to 2.1% for 2024. However, inflation remains above target in several countries, and public debt continues to rise as a percentage of GDP, underscoring the need for greater fiscal consolidation efforts.

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Press Release: Joint IMF-RFAs press release on the 9th High-level RFA Dialogue

The 9th High-level Regional Financing Arrangements (RFAs) Dialogue was held on 23 October 2024 in Washington DC at a time when the global economic outlook is improving but remains weak amid a complex geoeconomic environment and elevated policy uncertainty. The heightened volatility observed in global financial markets over the summer rearmed the importance of having a strong Global Financial Safety Net, including eective collaboration between the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and RFAs, to safeguard against external risks.

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