Federal Independent Agencies
Here's a look at documents from federal independent agencies
Federal Independent Agencies
Featured Stories
National Archives: Bradford P. Wilson Confirmed by U.S. Senate as 12th Archivist of the U.S.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 -- The National Archives and Records Administration issued the following news release on Aug. 21, 2026:
* * *
Bradford P. Wilson Confirmed by U.S. Senate as 12th Archivist of the United States
The United States Senate voted on August 7, 2026, to confirm Bradford P. Wilson as Archivist of the United States. Wilson was nominated by President Donald J.Trump on March 2, 2026, and received strong bipartisan support following his testimony before the Senate Homeland and Government Affairs Committee.
"I am deeply honored to lead the National Archives and Records Administration, ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 -- The National Archives and Records Administration issued the following news release on Aug. 21, 2026: * * * Bradford P. Wilson Confirmed by U.S. Senate as 12th Archivist of the United States The United States Senate voted on August 7, 2026, to confirm Bradford P. Wilson as Archivist of the United States. Wilson was nominated by President Donald J.Trump on March 2, 2026, and received strong bipartisan support following his testimony before the Senate Homeland and Government Affairs Committee. "I am deeply honored to lead the National Archives and Records Administration,and with the support and trust of President Trump and the United States Senate," said Archivist of the United States Bradford Wilson. "I look forward to working with the professional staff at the National Archives to ensure the preservation of and access to our nation's most important records."
Dr. Wilson previously served as the James Wilson Distinguished Visiting Scholar in Civic Thought in the Center for Constitutional Studies at Utah Valley University. In 2024, he retired from his long-time position as Executive Director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions, Lecturer in Politics, and Fellow of Forbes College at Princeton University. Before joining Princeton University, Wilson spent eight years as Acting President and then Executive Director of the National Association of Scholars. He has served as a presidential appointee on the Board of Trustees of the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation and was a Senior Research Fellow in the Witherspoon Institute, President of the Association for the Study of Free Institutions, and Fulbright Senior Scholar in Russia. From 1984 to 1987, he served as Research Associate to two Chief Justices of the United States, Warren E. Burger and William H. Rehnquist.
Wilson received his BA from North Carolina State University, his MA from Northern Illinois University, and his PhD in Politics from The Catholic University of America.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/nr26-4
* * *
Bradford P. Wilson Confirmed by U.S. Senate as 12th Archivist of the United States
The United States Senate voted on August 7, 2026, to confirm Bradford P. Wilson as Archivist of the United States. Wilson was nominated by President Donald J.Trump on March 2, 2026, and received strong bipartisan support following his testimony before the Senate Homeland and Government Affairs Committee.
"I am deeply honored to lead the National Archives and Records Administration, ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 -- The National Archives and Records Administration issued the following news release on Aug. 21, 2026: * * * Bradford P. Wilson Confirmed by U.S. Senate as 12th Archivist of the United States The United States Senate voted on August 7, 2026, to confirm Bradford P. Wilson as Archivist of the United States. Wilson was nominated by President Donald J.Trump on March 2, 2026, and received strong bipartisan support following his testimony before the Senate Homeland and Government Affairs Committee. "I am deeply honored to lead the National Archives and Records Administration,and with the support and trust of President Trump and the United States Senate," said Archivist of the United States Bradford Wilson. "I look forward to working with the professional staff at the National Archives to ensure the preservation of and access to our nation's most important records."
Dr. Wilson previously served as the James Wilson Distinguished Visiting Scholar in Civic Thought in the Center for Constitutional Studies at Utah Valley University. In 2024, he retired from his long-time position as Executive Director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions, Lecturer in Politics, and Fellow of Forbes College at Princeton University. Before joining Princeton University, Wilson spent eight years as Acting President and then Executive Director of the National Association of Scholars. He has served as a presidential appointee on the Board of Trustees of the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation and was a Senior Research Fellow in the Witherspoon Institute, President of the Association for the Study of Free Institutions, and Fulbright Senior Scholar in Russia. From 1984 to 1987, he served as Research Associate to two Chief Justices of the United States, Warren E. Burger and William H. Rehnquist.
Wilson received his BA from North Carolina State University, his MA from Northern Illinois University, and his PhD in Politics from The Catholic University of America.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/nr26-4
Belize Joins the 100% Alliance for Sustainable Ocean Management With IDB Support
WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
* * *
Belize Joins the 100% Alliance for Sustainable Ocean Management with IDB Support
BELIZE CITY- Belize has joined the 100% Alliance for Sustainable Ocean Management, reinforcing its leadership in marine conservation and the blue economy. With support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the country is advancing integrated ocean management to foster climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable economic growth.
Belize's commitment to sustainably manage 100% of the ocean ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release: * * * Belize Joins the 100% Alliance for Sustainable Ocean Management with IDB Support BELIZE CITY- Belize has joined the 100% Alliance for Sustainable Ocean Management, reinforcing its leadership in marine conservation and the blue economy. With support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the country is advancing integrated ocean management to foster climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable economic growth. Belize's commitment to sustainably manage 100% of the oceanareas under its national jurisdiction by 2030 builds on a strong foundation of work already underway. Key initiatives such as the Belize Sustainable Ocean Plan, Blue Bonds, marine spatial planning, fisheries management reforms, and growing investments in the blue economy have positioned the country to take this important next step. Joining the Alliance provides Belize with an opportunity to bring these efforts together under a unified national vision rooted in science-based decision-making, integrated planning, sustainable financing, and meaningful private sector participation.
Belize's Prime Minister Hon. John Briceno emphasized the importance of the commitment: "Belize's decision to join the 100% Alliance is about ensuring that every part of our ocean is managed with purpose--for our people, our economy and future generations. It gives us an opportunity to bring our existing commitments and investments together under one national ocean vision, supported by strong science, clear planning and sustainable financing."
The IDB is supporting Belize in strengthening the policies, governance frameworks, data systems, and financing mechanisms needed to implement a comprehensive National Sustainable Ocean Plan. This support is aimed at ensuring that ocean management contributes directly to economic development, resilience, biodiversity conservation, food security, tourism, and sustainable livelihoods.
Central to this approach is the recognition that healthy reefs, mangroves, and fisheries are not only environmental assets but also critical infrastructure that generates economic value and supports communities across Belize. The IDB will continue supporting the development of bankable blue economy projects, including innovative Nature Public-Private Partnerships (Nature PPPs) that can mobilize public, private, and concessional capital for measurable conservation and development outcomes.
"For nearly three decades, Belize has trusted the IDB as a partner in tackling some of its most important development challenges. Today, as the country enters a new chapter focused on natural capital, resilience, and sustainable growth, we remain committed. The IDB is proud to remain Belize's partner of choice -- and why this next chapter is worth investing in", said IDB Unit Chief Biodiversity and Natural Capital, Gregory Watson.
Belize's decision is a clear statement of intent to manage the country's ocean resources sustainably for the benefit of its people, its economy, and future generations.
"This commitment is closely aligned with the IDB Belize Country Strategy 2026-2030, which emphasizes ocean and reef protection through a holistic approach that recognizes the direct connection between healthy landscapes and healthy marine ecosystems. This perspective is reflected across the IDB's portfolio in Belize, including investments in water and sanitation, rural development, electrification, education, blue jobs creation, and strategic infrastructure," said Karla Gonzalez, IDB Country Representative for Belize.
* * *
About the IDB
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), a member of the IDB Group, is devoted to improving lives across Latin America and the Caribbean. Founded in 1959, the IDB works with the region's public sector to design and enable impactful, innovative solutions for sustainable and inclusive development. Leveraging financing, technical expertise, and knowledge, it promotes growth and well-being in 26 countries. Visit our website: https://www.iadb.org/en
* * *
Original text here: https://www.iadb.org/en/news/belize-joins-100-alliance-sustainable-ocean-management-idb-support
* * *
Belize Joins the 100% Alliance for Sustainable Ocean Management with IDB Support
BELIZE CITY- Belize has joined the 100% Alliance for Sustainable Ocean Management, reinforcing its leadership in marine conservation and the blue economy. With support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the country is advancing integrated ocean management to foster climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable economic growth.
Belize's commitment to sustainably manage 100% of the ocean ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release: * * * Belize Joins the 100% Alliance for Sustainable Ocean Management with IDB Support BELIZE CITY- Belize has joined the 100% Alliance for Sustainable Ocean Management, reinforcing its leadership in marine conservation and the blue economy. With support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the country is advancing integrated ocean management to foster climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable economic growth. Belize's commitment to sustainably manage 100% of the oceanareas under its national jurisdiction by 2030 builds on a strong foundation of work already underway. Key initiatives such as the Belize Sustainable Ocean Plan, Blue Bonds, marine spatial planning, fisheries management reforms, and growing investments in the blue economy have positioned the country to take this important next step. Joining the Alliance provides Belize with an opportunity to bring these efforts together under a unified national vision rooted in science-based decision-making, integrated planning, sustainable financing, and meaningful private sector participation.
Belize's Prime Minister Hon. John Briceno emphasized the importance of the commitment: "Belize's decision to join the 100% Alliance is about ensuring that every part of our ocean is managed with purpose--for our people, our economy and future generations. It gives us an opportunity to bring our existing commitments and investments together under one national ocean vision, supported by strong science, clear planning and sustainable financing."
The IDB is supporting Belize in strengthening the policies, governance frameworks, data systems, and financing mechanisms needed to implement a comprehensive National Sustainable Ocean Plan. This support is aimed at ensuring that ocean management contributes directly to economic development, resilience, biodiversity conservation, food security, tourism, and sustainable livelihoods.
Central to this approach is the recognition that healthy reefs, mangroves, and fisheries are not only environmental assets but also critical infrastructure that generates economic value and supports communities across Belize. The IDB will continue supporting the development of bankable blue economy projects, including innovative Nature Public-Private Partnerships (Nature PPPs) that can mobilize public, private, and concessional capital for measurable conservation and development outcomes.
"For nearly three decades, Belize has trusted the IDB as a partner in tackling some of its most important development challenges. Today, as the country enters a new chapter focused on natural capital, resilience, and sustainable growth, we remain committed. The IDB is proud to remain Belize's partner of choice -- and why this next chapter is worth investing in", said IDB Unit Chief Biodiversity and Natural Capital, Gregory Watson.
Belize's decision is a clear statement of intent to manage the country's ocean resources sustainably for the benefit of its people, its economy, and future generations.
"This commitment is closely aligned with the IDB Belize Country Strategy 2026-2030, which emphasizes ocean and reef protection through a holistic approach that recognizes the direct connection between healthy landscapes and healthy marine ecosystems. This perspective is reflected across the IDB's portfolio in Belize, including investments in water and sanitation, rural development, electrification, education, blue jobs creation, and strategic infrastructure," said Karla Gonzalez, IDB Country Representative for Belize.
* * *
About the IDB
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), a member of the IDB Group, is devoted to improving lives across Latin America and the Caribbean. Founded in 1959, the IDB works with the region's public sector to design and enable impactful, innovative solutions for sustainable and inclusive development. Leveraging financing, technical expertise, and knowledge, it promotes growth and well-being in 26 countries. Visit our website: https://www.iadb.org/en
* * *
Original text here: https://www.iadb.org/en/news/belize-joins-100-alliance-sustainable-ocean-management-idb-support
Inter-American Development Bank: Perceptions of Corruption and Preferences for Redistributive Policies - Evidence From a Survey Experiment in Latin America
WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 (TNSLrpt) -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following white paper on July 2026, entitled "Perceptions of Corruption and Preferences for Redistributive Policies: Evidence from a Survey Experiment in Latin America."
Here are excerpts:
* * *
Abstract
This study examines whether information about corruption and tax evasion changes perceived unfairness in the income distribution, perceived inequality of opportunity, and support for specific redistributive policies. Using a survey experiment administered in eight Latin American countries, we find that factual information ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 (TNSLrpt) -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following white paper on July 2026, entitled "Perceptions of Corruption and Preferences for Redistributive Policies: Evidence from a Survey Experiment in Latin America." Here are excerpts: * * * Abstract This study examines whether information about corruption and tax evasion changes perceived unfairness in the income distribution, perceived inequality of opportunity, and support for specific redistributive policies. Using a survey experiment administered in eight Latin American countries, we find that factual informationabout public corruption and elite tax evasion increases perceptions of unfairness and unequal opportunity. It also increases support for taxing rich households relative to middle-class households. However, these effects do not extend to broader tax-financed redistribution: respondents do not become more supportive of raising corporate taxes, broadening the personal income tax, or increasing the VAT to finance social spending, nor do they become more supportive of expanding conditional cash transfers or non-contributory pensions through higher taxes. The results are consistent with trust limiting the translation of inequality concerns into support for broader tax-financed redistribution: the treatments increased perceived elite influence over government policy and reduced some measures of trust in public officials and firms.
Introduction
Latin America and the Caribbean is among the most unequal regions in the world, yet redistribution from the rich to the poor remains limited. This reflects political and institutional constraints, the limited effectiveness of redistributive policies, and possibly weak citizen demand for efficient redistribution. At the same time, Latin Americans widely perceive the income distribution as unfair and report high levels of government and elite corruption, contributing to low trust in both the public and private sectors (Busso et al., 2025). These perceptions are consistent with evidence that corruption in the region exceeds levels observed in the United States and Europe, and that government inefficiency and fraud waste substantial public resources.1 The coexistence of widespread perceived unfairness, high perceived corruption, and limited redistribution raises a central question: do corruption and tax-evasion information increase perceived unfairness while limiting support for broader tax-financed redistribution?
We examine this question using a survey experiment conducted in eight Latin American countries. The experiment exposes respondents to information about public corruption or elite tax evasion. The design allows us to assess whether this information increases perceived unfairness in the income distribution and perceived unequal opportunity, and whether these concerns translate into support for broader tax-financed redistribution.
The experiment covers more than 21,000 respondents from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, and Peru. Online survey respondents were randomly assigned to a control group or to one of two treatment groups. Both treatments used factual prompts based on documented corruption and tax-evasion scandals in Latin America. The first treatment emphasized public corruption, including bribes paid to politicians and public officials to obtain public contracts. The second treatment emphasized elite tax evasion, including the use of offshore structures by wealthy individuals and corporations to hide assets and reduce tax liabilities. The experiment tests whether information that emphasizes public corruption or elite tax evasion has different effects on perceived unfairness and unequal opportunity, redistributive preferences over taxation and social spending, and trust in government and elites.
We find that both treatments increase perceived corruption and tax evasion. The corruption treatment has larger effects on perceptions that politicians and public officials take bribes, but both treatments increase perceptions that firms and rich individuals pay bribes to public officials. Both treatments also increase perceived income hidden from tax authorities by firms and rich individuals. This pattern suggests that respondents do not sharply separate public corruption from misconduct by firms and rich individuals.
The treatments also increase perceived unfairness and unequal opportunity. Treated respondents are more likely to view the income distribution as unfair. They are also more likely to perceive a larger gap in college-graduation opportunities between smart young people from poor and rich households.
The effects on redistributive preferences are more limited. Both treatments increase support for taxing rich households relative to middle-class households. However, neither treatment increases support for broader tax-financed redistribution. Respondents do not become more supportive of raising corporate taxes, broadening the personal income tax, or increasing the VAT to finance social spending. Nor do they become more supportive of expanding conditional cash transfers or non-contributory pensions through higher taxes.
We also find that both treatments increase perceptions that firms and rich individuals influence government policy to obtain favorable laws and tax exemptions. The corruption treatment also reduces the belief that public officials and firms take the interests of people like the respondent into account; the tax-evasion treatment reduces this belief for firms. Taken together, the results suggest that information about corruption and tax evasion increases perceived unfairness and support for taxation at the top, but does not generate broader support for fiscal instruments that require taxation and government implementation. One interpretation is that respondents may doubt whether additional fiscal resources would be used effectively for redistributive purposes.
This paper contributes to the literature on corruption, inequality, and redistribution by showing that corruption and tax-evasion information can move different components of redistributive preferences in different directions. Prior work argues that corruption can make inequality appear less fair because it allows already privileged groups to obtain additional wealth and influence (Uslaner, 2017; Vallier, 2021). This view implies that exposure to corruption or elite tax evasion may increase support for redistribution from groups perceived as having benefited unfairly (Uslaner and Badescu, 2004; Helgason and Merola, 2022; Di-Tella and Macculoch, 2009; Grimalda and Pipke, 2021). Other work emphasizes an opposing force: corruption may lower support for tax-financed redistribution if it weakens trust in the government's ability to redistribute effectively (Hauk et al., 2022; Silva et al., 2016). We find that these forces operate at the same time and may counterbalance each other. Information about public corruption and elite tax evasion increases perceived unfairness and support for taxing rich households relative to middle-class households, but does not increase support for broader tax-financed redistribution. This distinction is important because redistributive preferences are multidimensional: support for taxing high-income groups need not coincide with support for transfers or social spending targeted to low-income groups (Cavaille and Trump, 2015; Margalit and Raviv, 2024).
The paper also contributes to the literature using survey experiments to study redistributive preferences. Much of this work focuses on high-income countries and shows that beliefs about inequality, mobility, and relative income position are malleable, while policy preferences are harder to move (Alesina et al., 2023, 2018; Kuziemko et al., 2015; Stantcheva, 2021). Evidence from Latin America remains more limited, although prior work shows that correcting misperceptions about income position and tax incidence can affect support for redistribution (Cruces et al., 2013; Ardanaz et al., 2022). We provide experimental evidence from eight Latin American countries, where inequality, corruption, and low trust are salient features of the fiscal-policy environment. The closest paper to ours is Di-Tella et al. (2021), who show that trust in elites and government shapes preferences for taxation at the top in the United States. We extend this work by studying how information about public corruption and elite tax evasion affects perceived unfairness, perceived unequal opportunity, support for taxation at the top, support for broader tax-financed redistribution, and trust in government and elites in Latin America.
The remainder of the paper is structured as follows. Section 2 presents the conceptual framework. Section 3 describes the data and measurement. Section 4 presents the two information treatments administered through the survey instrument. Section 5 discusses the empirical strategy. Section 6 presents the main findings and additional results. Section 7 concludes.
* * *
View full text here: https://publications.iadb.org/en/perceptions-corruption-and-preferences-redistributive-policies-evidence-survey-experiment-latin
[Category: IADB]
Here are excerpts:
* * *
Abstract
This study examines whether information about corruption and tax evasion changes perceived unfairness in the income distribution, perceived inequality of opportunity, and support for specific redistributive policies. Using a survey experiment administered in eight Latin American countries, we find that factual information ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 (TNSLrpt) -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following white paper on July 2026, entitled "Perceptions of Corruption and Preferences for Redistributive Policies: Evidence from a Survey Experiment in Latin America." Here are excerpts: * * * Abstract This study examines whether information about corruption and tax evasion changes perceived unfairness in the income distribution, perceived inequality of opportunity, and support for specific redistributive policies. Using a survey experiment administered in eight Latin American countries, we find that factual informationabout public corruption and elite tax evasion increases perceptions of unfairness and unequal opportunity. It also increases support for taxing rich households relative to middle-class households. However, these effects do not extend to broader tax-financed redistribution: respondents do not become more supportive of raising corporate taxes, broadening the personal income tax, or increasing the VAT to finance social spending, nor do they become more supportive of expanding conditional cash transfers or non-contributory pensions through higher taxes. The results are consistent with trust limiting the translation of inequality concerns into support for broader tax-financed redistribution: the treatments increased perceived elite influence over government policy and reduced some measures of trust in public officials and firms.
Introduction
Latin America and the Caribbean is among the most unequal regions in the world, yet redistribution from the rich to the poor remains limited. This reflects political and institutional constraints, the limited effectiveness of redistributive policies, and possibly weak citizen demand for efficient redistribution. At the same time, Latin Americans widely perceive the income distribution as unfair and report high levels of government and elite corruption, contributing to low trust in both the public and private sectors (Busso et al., 2025). These perceptions are consistent with evidence that corruption in the region exceeds levels observed in the United States and Europe, and that government inefficiency and fraud waste substantial public resources.1 The coexistence of widespread perceived unfairness, high perceived corruption, and limited redistribution raises a central question: do corruption and tax-evasion information increase perceived unfairness while limiting support for broader tax-financed redistribution?
We examine this question using a survey experiment conducted in eight Latin American countries. The experiment exposes respondents to information about public corruption or elite tax evasion. The design allows us to assess whether this information increases perceived unfairness in the income distribution and perceived unequal opportunity, and whether these concerns translate into support for broader tax-financed redistribution.
The experiment covers more than 21,000 respondents from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, and Peru. Online survey respondents were randomly assigned to a control group or to one of two treatment groups. Both treatments used factual prompts based on documented corruption and tax-evasion scandals in Latin America. The first treatment emphasized public corruption, including bribes paid to politicians and public officials to obtain public contracts. The second treatment emphasized elite tax evasion, including the use of offshore structures by wealthy individuals and corporations to hide assets and reduce tax liabilities. The experiment tests whether information that emphasizes public corruption or elite tax evasion has different effects on perceived unfairness and unequal opportunity, redistributive preferences over taxation and social spending, and trust in government and elites.
We find that both treatments increase perceived corruption and tax evasion. The corruption treatment has larger effects on perceptions that politicians and public officials take bribes, but both treatments increase perceptions that firms and rich individuals pay bribes to public officials. Both treatments also increase perceived income hidden from tax authorities by firms and rich individuals. This pattern suggests that respondents do not sharply separate public corruption from misconduct by firms and rich individuals.
The treatments also increase perceived unfairness and unequal opportunity. Treated respondents are more likely to view the income distribution as unfair. They are also more likely to perceive a larger gap in college-graduation opportunities between smart young people from poor and rich households.
The effects on redistributive preferences are more limited. Both treatments increase support for taxing rich households relative to middle-class households. However, neither treatment increases support for broader tax-financed redistribution. Respondents do not become more supportive of raising corporate taxes, broadening the personal income tax, or increasing the VAT to finance social spending. Nor do they become more supportive of expanding conditional cash transfers or non-contributory pensions through higher taxes.
We also find that both treatments increase perceptions that firms and rich individuals influence government policy to obtain favorable laws and tax exemptions. The corruption treatment also reduces the belief that public officials and firms take the interests of people like the respondent into account; the tax-evasion treatment reduces this belief for firms. Taken together, the results suggest that information about corruption and tax evasion increases perceived unfairness and support for taxation at the top, but does not generate broader support for fiscal instruments that require taxation and government implementation. One interpretation is that respondents may doubt whether additional fiscal resources would be used effectively for redistributive purposes.
This paper contributes to the literature on corruption, inequality, and redistribution by showing that corruption and tax-evasion information can move different components of redistributive preferences in different directions. Prior work argues that corruption can make inequality appear less fair because it allows already privileged groups to obtain additional wealth and influence (Uslaner, 2017; Vallier, 2021). This view implies that exposure to corruption or elite tax evasion may increase support for redistribution from groups perceived as having benefited unfairly (Uslaner and Badescu, 2004; Helgason and Merola, 2022; Di-Tella and Macculoch, 2009; Grimalda and Pipke, 2021). Other work emphasizes an opposing force: corruption may lower support for tax-financed redistribution if it weakens trust in the government's ability to redistribute effectively (Hauk et al., 2022; Silva et al., 2016). We find that these forces operate at the same time and may counterbalance each other. Information about public corruption and elite tax evasion increases perceived unfairness and support for taxing rich households relative to middle-class households, but does not increase support for broader tax-financed redistribution. This distinction is important because redistributive preferences are multidimensional: support for taxing high-income groups need not coincide with support for transfers or social spending targeted to low-income groups (Cavaille and Trump, 2015; Margalit and Raviv, 2024).
The paper also contributes to the literature using survey experiments to study redistributive preferences. Much of this work focuses on high-income countries and shows that beliefs about inequality, mobility, and relative income position are malleable, while policy preferences are harder to move (Alesina et al., 2023, 2018; Kuziemko et al., 2015; Stantcheva, 2021). Evidence from Latin America remains more limited, although prior work shows that correcting misperceptions about income position and tax incidence can affect support for redistribution (Cruces et al., 2013; Ardanaz et al., 2022). We provide experimental evidence from eight Latin American countries, where inequality, corruption, and low trust are salient features of the fiscal-policy environment. The closest paper to ours is Di-Tella et al. (2021), who show that trust in elites and government shapes preferences for taxation at the top in the United States. We extend this work by studying how information about public corruption and elite tax evasion affects perceived unfairness, perceived unequal opportunity, support for taxation at the top, support for broader tax-financed redistribution, and trust in government and elites in Latin America.
The remainder of the paper is structured as follows. Section 2 presents the conceptual framework. Section 3 describes the data and measurement. Section 4 presents the two information treatments administered through the survey instrument. Section 5 discusses the empirical strategy. Section 6 presents the main findings and additional results. Section 7 concludes.
* * *
View full text here: https://publications.iadb.org/en/perceptions-corruption-and-preferences-redistributive-policies-evidence-survey-experiment-latin
[Category: IADB]
Inter-American Development Bank: Fiscal and Monetary Policy Shocks and Private Sector Activity - Evidence Across Countries
WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 (TNSLrpt) -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following white paper on July 2026, entitled "Fiscal and Monetary Policy Shocks and Private Sector Activity: Evidence Across Countries."
Here are excerpts:
* * *
Abstract
This paper examines the relationship between fiscal- and monetary-policy shocks and private-sector outcomes, with a focus on private investment, private credit, and firm creation, by using an annual panel of 148 countries over the period 1970-2023. We construct measures of cyclically adjusted fiscal shocks and forecast-error monetary shocks and ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 (TNSLrpt) -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following white paper on July 2026, entitled "Fiscal and Monetary Policy Shocks and Private Sector Activity: Evidence Across Countries." Here are excerpts: * * * Abstract This paper examines the relationship between fiscal- and monetary-policy shocks and private-sector outcomes, with a focus on private investment, private credit, and firm creation, by using an annual panel of 148 countries over the period 1970-2023. We construct measures of cyclically adjusted fiscal shocks and forecast-error monetary shocks andanalyze their association with private-sector activity using long-run panel regressions and state-dependent local projections. The average long-run relationships between policy shocks and private-sector outcomes are generally weak and often statistically insignificant. Yet substantial heterogeneity does emerge across countries with different levels of fiscal space, financial development, informality, inequality, and institutional quality. Fiscal expansions are more strongly associated with private-sector activity in low-debt, institutionally stronger environments, while monetary easing is linked to greater firm creation and credit growth in financially constrained and highly informal economies. Overall, the findings suggest that the relationship between macroeconomic policy shocks and private-sector development depends critically on structural and institutional characteristics.
Introduction
Fiscal and monetary policy remain the principal macroeconomic instruments available to governments and central banks for stabilizing economic activity and supporting longterm development. Beyond their effects on aggregate output, inflation, and employment, policy interventions may also influence key dimensions of private-sector activity, including investment, access to credit, and business formation. These outcomes are central to economic growth, productivity enhancement, and structural transformation, yet comparatively less attention has been devoted to understanding how they respond to fiscal- and monetary-policy shocks in a unified cross-country framework.
There is a substantial body of literature on the macroeconomic consequences of fiscal- and monetary-policy interventions. Fiscal-policy research has focused primarily on output multipliers, employment effects, public debt dynamics, and the consequences of fiscal consolidations and government spending shocks (Alesina and Ardagna, 2010; Alesina et al., 2015; Batini et al., 2014). Similarly, the monetary-policy literature has extensively investigated how interest-rate changes affect inflation, output, financial conditions, and credit markets through traditional interest-rate, credit, and balance-sheet channels (Bernanke and Gertler, 1995; Christiano et al., 2005; Romer and Romer, 2004; Gilchrist and Zakrajsek, 2012; Tenreyro and Thwaites, 2016). However, relatively few papers have examined the association of fiscal- and monetary-policy shocks with privatesector outcomes such as investment, credit expansion, and firm creation across a broad set of countries. Moreover, fiscal and monetary policies are often studied separately, despite operating simultaneously and interacting through financial conditions, sovereignrisk perceptions, public debt dynamics, and expectations.
Understanding these relationships is particularly important because the effects of macroeconomic policy are unlikely to be uniform across countries. A growing body of evidence suggests that fiscal space, financial development, institutional quality, and broader macroeconomic conditions influence the transmission of both fiscal and monetary policy (Auerbach and Gorodnichenko, 2013; Ilzetzki et al., 2013; Mishra et al., 2014; Huidrom et al., 2020). Economies characterized by stronger institutions, deeper financial markets, and more-sustainable fiscal positions may see different responses to policy interventions than economies facing tighter financing constraints, weaker governance, or larger informal sectors. Such heterogeneity raises important questions regarding the circumstances under which policy actions are more closely associated with private-sector dynamism.
Against this background, this paper addresses three related questions. First, how are fiscal- and monetary-policy shocks associated with private-sector outcomes, notably private investment, private credit, and firm creation? Second, to what extent do structural characteristics such as informality, inequality, governance, and financial development shape these relationships? Third, do fiscal- and monetary-policy shocks interact in ways that reinforce or offset their association with private-sector activity?
To address these questions, we construct measures of cyclically adjusted fiscal shocks and forecast-error monetary shocks using annual data for a broad panel of countries over the period 1970-2023. Fiscal shocks are defined as large changes in cyclically adjusted government spending, while monetary shocks are defined as deviations of policy rates from values predicted by standard macroeconomic fundamentals. These measures are designed to capture discretionary policy movements in a consistent cross-country framework rather than narrative or action-based policy interventions available only for a limited number of economies. The empirical analysis combines long-run panel regressions with local projections (Jorda, 2005), allowing us to examine both average relationships and dynamic responses across different macroeconomic and institutional environments.
This paper contributes to the literature in two principal respects. First, it provides cross-country evidence on the relationships between fiscal- and monetary-policy shocks and private-sector outcomes that have received comparatively less attention than traditional macroeconomic aggregates, namely private investment, private credit, and firm creation. The existing evidence largely relates to output, inflation, employment, and broad financial aggregates, while the implications of policy shocks for entrepreneurship and private-sector development remain less explored. Second, the paper examines how these relationships vary across countries with different levels of fiscal space, financial development, institutional quality, inequality, and informality. In doing so, it contributes to the broader literature that emphasizes the conditional effectiveness of macroeconomic policy and the importance of structural characteristics in shaping economic outcomes.
The findings suggest that average long-run relationships between fiscal- and monetary-policy shocks and private-sector outcomes are generally weak and often statistically insignificant, yet considerable heterogeneity does emerge across countries and policy environments. Fiscal expansions are more strongly associated with privatesector activity in countries characterized by lower public debt burdens and stronger institutional quality, while monetary easing is linked to stronger firm creation and credit growth in financially constrained and highly informal economies. Conversely, these relationships tend to be weaker in high-debt and weaker-governance environments. Dynamic estimates further indicate that monetary tightening is associated with relatively rapid and persistent declines in private investment and credit, while the relationship between fiscal shocks and private-sector outcomes appears more sensitive to institutional and structural conditions. Overall, the results suggest that the relationship between macroeconomic-policy shocks and private-sector development depends significantly on the economic and institutional environment in which policy operates.
The remainder of the paper is organized as follows: Section 2 reviews the related literature; Section 3 presents the conceptual framework and develops the main hypotheses; Section 4 describes the data, shock construction, and empirical methodology; Section 5 presents the empirical results and robustness analysis; and Section 6 concludes.
* * *
View full text here: https://publications.iadb.org/en/fiscal-and-monetary-policy-shocks-and-private-sector-activity-evidence-across-countries
[Category: IADB]
Here are excerpts:
* * *
Abstract
This paper examines the relationship between fiscal- and monetary-policy shocks and private-sector outcomes, with a focus on private investment, private credit, and firm creation, by using an annual panel of 148 countries over the period 1970-2023. We construct measures of cyclically adjusted fiscal shocks and forecast-error monetary shocks and ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 (TNSLrpt) -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following white paper on July 2026, entitled "Fiscal and Monetary Policy Shocks and Private Sector Activity: Evidence Across Countries." Here are excerpts: * * * Abstract This paper examines the relationship between fiscal- and monetary-policy shocks and private-sector outcomes, with a focus on private investment, private credit, and firm creation, by using an annual panel of 148 countries over the period 1970-2023. We construct measures of cyclically adjusted fiscal shocks and forecast-error monetary shocks andanalyze their association with private-sector activity using long-run panel regressions and state-dependent local projections. The average long-run relationships between policy shocks and private-sector outcomes are generally weak and often statistically insignificant. Yet substantial heterogeneity does emerge across countries with different levels of fiscal space, financial development, informality, inequality, and institutional quality. Fiscal expansions are more strongly associated with private-sector activity in low-debt, institutionally stronger environments, while monetary easing is linked to greater firm creation and credit growth in financially constrained and highly informal economies. Overall, the findings suggest that the relationship between macroeconomic policy shocks and private-sector development depends critically on structural and institutional characteristics.
Introduction
Fiscal and monetary policy remain the principal macroeconomic instruments available to governments and central banks for stabilizing economic activity and supporting longterm development. Beyond their effects on aggregate output, inflation, and employment, policy interventions may also influence key dimensions of private-sector activity, including investment, access to credit, and business formation. These outcomes are central to economic growth, productivity enhancement, and structural transformation, yet comparatively less attention has been devoted to understanding how they respond to fiscal- and monetary-policy shocks in a unified cross-country framework.
There is a substantial body of literature on the macroeconomic consequences of fiscal- and monetary-policy interventions. Fiscal-policy research has focused primarily on output multipliers, employment effects, public debt dynamics, and the consequences of fiscal consolidations and government spending shocks (Alesina and Ardagna, 2010; Alesina et al., 2015; Batini et al., 2014). Similarly, the monetary-policy literature has extensively investigated how interest-rate changes affect inflation, output, financial conditions, and credit markets through traditional interest-rate, credit, and balance-sheet channels (Bernanke and Gertler, 1995; Christiano et al., 2005; Romer and Romer, 2004; Gilchrist and Zakrajsek, 2012; Tenreyro and Thwaites, 2016). However, relatively few papers have examined the association of fiscal- and monetary-policy shocks with privatesector outcomes such as investment, credit expansion, and firm creation across a broad set of countries. Moreover, fiscal and monetary policies are often studied separately, despite operating simultaneously and interacting through financial conditions, sovereignrisk perceptions, public debt dynamics, and expectations.
Understanding these relationships is particularly important because the effects of macroeconomic policy are unlikely to be uniform across countries. A growing body of evidence suggests that fiscal space, financial development, institutional quality, and broader macroeconomic conditions influence the transmission of both fiscal and monetary policy (Auerbach and Gorodnichenko, 2013; Ilzetzki et al., 2013; Mishra et al., 2014; Huidrom et al., 2020). Economies characterized by stronger institutions, deeper financial markets, and more-sustainable fiscal positions may see different responses to policy interventions than economies facing tighter financing constraints, weaker governance, or larger informal sectors. Such heterogeneity raises important questions regarding the circumstances under which policy actions are more closely associated with private-sector dynamism.
Against this background, this paper addresses three related questions. First, how are fiscal- and monetary-policy shocks associated with private-sector outcomes, notably private investment, private credit, and firm creation? Second, to what extent do structural characteristics such as informality, inequality, governance, and financial development shape these relationships? Third, do fiscal- and monetary-policy shocks interact in ways that reinforce or offset their association with private-sector activity?
To address these questions, we construct measures of cyclically adjusted fiscal shocks and forecast-error monetary shocks using annual data for a broad panel of countries over the period 1970-2023. Fiscal shocks are defined as large changes in cyclically adjusted government spending, while monetary shocks are defined as deviations of policy rates from values predicted by standard macroeconomic fundamentals. These measures are designed to capture discretionary policy movements in a consistent cross-country framework rather than narrative or action-based policy interventions available only for a limited number of economies. The empirical analysis combines long-run panel regressions with local projections (Jorda, 2005), allowing us to examine both average relationships and dynamic responses across different macroeconomic and institutional environments.
This paper contributes to the literature in two principal respects. First, it provides cross-country evidence on the relationships between fiscal- and monetary-policy shocks and private-sector outcomes that have received comparatively less attention than traditional macroeconomic aggregates, namely private investment, private credit, and firm creation. The existing evidence largely relates to output, inflation, employment, and broad financial aggregates, while the implications of policy shocks for entrepreneurship and private-sector development remain less explored. Second, the paper examines how these relationships vary across countries with different levels of fiscal space, financial development, institutional quality, inequality, and informality. In doing so, it contributes to the broader literature that emphasizes the conditional effectiveness of macroeconomic policy and the importance of structural characteristics in shaping economic outcomes.
The findings suggest that average long-run relationships between fiscal- and monetary-policy shocks and private-sector outcomes are generally weak and often statistically insignificant, yet considerable heterogeneity does emerge across countries and policy environments. Fiscal expansions are more strongly associated with privatesector activity in countries characterized by lower public debt burdens and stronger institutional quality, while monetary easing is linked to stronger firm creation and credit growth in financially constrained and highly informal economies. Conversely, these relationships tend to be weaker in high-debt and weaker-governance environments. Dynamic estimates further indicate that monetary tightening is associated with relatively rapid and persistent declines in private investment and credit, while the relationship between fiscal shocks and private-sector outcomes appears more sensitive to institutional and structural conditions. Overall, the results suggest that the relationship between macroeconomic-policy shocks and private-sector development depends significantly on the economic and institutional environment in which policy operates.
The remainder of the paper is organized as follows: Section 2 reviews the related literature; Section 3 presents the conceptual framework and develops the main hypotheses; Section 4 describes the data, shock construction, and empirical methodology; Section 5 presents the empirical results and robustness analysis; and Section 6 concludes.
* * *
View full text here: https://publications.iadb.org/en/fiscal-and-monetary-policy-shocks-and-private-sector-activity-evidence-across-countries
[Category: IADB]
Inter-American Development Bank: AI and Judicial Productivity - The Impact of MIDAS on the Courts of Fortaleza, Brazil
WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 (TNSLrpt) -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following white paper on July 2026, entitled "AI and Judicial Productivity: The Impact of MIDAS on the Courts of Fortaleza, Brazil."
Here are excerpts:
* * *
Abstract
This paper presents preliminary results from a pilot study conducted in the courts of Ceara, Brazil. The study evaluates the impact of introducing a tool that uses natural language processing and machine learning techniques to cluster judicial acts by textual similarity on clerk productivity, measured as the number of case files a clerk can produce ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 (TNSLrpt) -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following white paper on July 2026, entitled "AI and Judicial Productivity: The Impact of MIDAS on the Courts of Fortaleza, Brazil." Here are excerpts: * * * Abstract This paper presents preliminary results from a pilot study conducted in the courts of Ceara, Brazil. The study evaluates the impact of introducing a tool that uses natural language processing and machine learning techniques to cluster judicial acts by textual similarity on clerk productivity, measured as the number of case files a clerk can producein a day. Estimates indicate that treatment-group clerks produced approximately 10 more case files per day than control-group clerks, a statistically significant difference equivalent to a 37% increase relative to the control group mean. The results are robust to the exclusion of outlier observations and exceptionally productive clerks.
Introduction
Estimates from 2019 indicated that around 1.5 billion individuals were unable to resolve their legal problems, despite living in contexts with a functioning justice system and institutions (World Justice Project, 2019). In Brazil, the State Justice system closed 2025 with nearly 58 million pending judicial processes, despite having adjudicated and closed more than 30 million during that year1. In the state of Ceara alone, the state Court of Justice (TJCE) received 692,630 new judicial processes and ended the year with more than one million pending.2
These backlogs are not merely an administrative problem, as the efficiency of the judicial system has significant economic repercussions. The literature shows that delays in resolving judicial proceedings hamper contract enforcement and insolvency resolution, generating a negative effect on firms' credit and investment (Djankov et al., 2008; Ponticelli and Alencar, 2016; Visaria, 2009; Chemin, 2012). Similarly, reductions in judicial processing times have been associated with greater entrepreneurship (Chemin, 2009), firm performance (Chakraborty, 2016), and the country's economic growth and development (Amirapu, 2021; Djankov et al., 2025). The need to increase judicial productivity becomes even more relevant in a context in which artificial intelligence tools are also reducing the costs of access to justice and potentially increasing the volume of litigation faced by courts (Shah and Levy, 2026).
This paper analyzes whether providing judicial clerks with a tool based on natural language processing (NLP) that clusters similar rulings, allowing them to process cases in batches rather than one by one, increases their daily productivity relative to the traditional workflow. To this end, we carried out a pilot study to examine the consequences of introducing the MIDAS system (Mecanismo Identificador de Actos Similares -- Similar Acts Identification Mechanism) at the First-Degree Judicial Secretariat (SEJUD) of the Court of Justice of Ceara (TJCE), Brazil3. MIDAS is a tool that uses NLP and machine learning techniques to cluster judicial rulings by textual similarity. Whereas in the traditional workflow clerks must prepare each case file one by one, with MIDAS clerks can prepare multiple case files at once, thereby reducing the average time per case and increasing total output volume. This increase in productivity should, in principle, contribute to reducing the backlog, to the extent that it does not simply shift the bottleneck to another stage of the judicial process.
The study was conducted between June and August 2025 within the framework of the Modernization Program for the Judiciary of the State of Ceara (PROMOJUD), with support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The study compared the daily productivity of 62 clerks assigned to two groups: a treatment group that processed case files with the support of MIDAS, and a control group that followed the traditional workflow. The central element of the design was randomization at the level of the ruling or judicial act: within each cluster generated by the system, rulings were randomly reordered using a Python script, and a fraction was extracted to be processed individually by the control group. This mechanism ensures that the judicial acts assigned to both groups come from the same pool of rulings and are comparable in their observable and unobservable characteristics in expectation.
The results indicate that treatment-group clerks produced on average 10 more case files per day than control-group clerks, a statistically significant difference equivalent to a 37% increase relative to the control group mean. Furthermore, these results are robust to the exclusion of potentially outlying observations, which reinforces the robustness of the conclusions. In terms of workload, our estimates suggest that access to the tool reduces case file preparation time from approximately 16 to 12 minutes per case file, a gain of 4 minutes per case that, accumulated over the workday, allows clerks to process one-third more case files in the same amount of time. Furthermore, the tool appears to expand the right tail of the productivity distribution: days on which a clerk analyzes more than 100 case files are notably more frequent among those who used MIDAS. However, since the treatment group included both clerks with full adherence to the system and clerks with partial exposure, the estimated effects should be interpreted as a lower bound on the tool's true impact.
This paper contributes to the existing literature on the use of artificial intelligence to improve efficiency in the judicial sector (Aidid and Alarie, 2023; Casey and Niblett, 2019; Volokh, 2019). Prior studies have shown how these tools can be used to automate routine tasks, such as analyzing and processing evidence, conducting investigations, and classifying legal documents (de Oliveira and Nascimento, 2021; Oliveira and Sperandio Nascimento, 2025; Razmetaeva and Razmetaev, 2021; Solovey et al., 2025), allowing court staff to devote more time to other activities (Alarie et al., 2018; Borgesano et al., 2025). The literature also highlights their potential to assist in judicial decision-making and, in some cases, to partially substitute judges' functions (Chen et al., 2022; Volokh, 2019). Some countries already report productivity gains derived from their use, including Argentina and Brazil (de Sousa et al., 2022; OECD, 2025). Our study contributes to this growing body of research by being, to our knowledge, the first to estimate the impact of an NLP-based clustering tool on judicial staff productivity through a pilot study with randomization at the level of the judicial act.
The remainder of the paper is organized as follows: Section 2 describes how the intervention works, the MIDAS system, and its position within the Judicial Secretariat's workflow. Section 3 then presents the study design, while Section 4 describes the data used. Section 5 presents the preliminary results of the pilot study, as well as the lessons that should be considered in future studies. Finally, Section 6 discusses the study's main methodological limitations and concludes the paper.
* * *
View full text here: https://publications.iadb.org/en/ai-and-judicial-productivity-impact-midas-courts-fortaleza-brazil
[Category: IADB]
Here are excerpts:
* * *
Abstract
This paper presents preliminary results from a pilot study conducted in the courts of Ceara, Brazil. The study evaluates the impact of introducing a tool that uses natural language processing and machine learning techniques to cluster judicial acts by textual similarity on clerk productivity, measured as the number of case files a clerk can produce ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 (TNSLrpt) -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following white paper on July 2026, entitled "AI and Judicial Productivity: The Impact of MIDAS on the Courts of Fortaleza, Brazil." Here are excerpts: * * * Abstract This paper presents preliminary results from a pilot study conducted in the courts of Ceara, Brazil. The study evaluates the impact of introducing a tool that uses natural language processing and machine learning techniques to cluster judicial acts by textual similarity on clerk productivity, measured as the number of case files a clerk can producein a day. Estimates indicate that treatment-group clerks produced approximately 10 more case files per day than control-group clerks, a statistically significant difference equivalent to a 37% increase relative to the control group mean. The results are robust to the exclusion of outlier observations and exceptionally productive clerks.
Introduction
Estimates from 2019 indicated that around 1.5 billion individuals were unable to resolve their legal problems, despite living in contexts with a functioning justice system and institutions (World Justice Project, 2019). In Brazil, the State Justice system closed 2025 with nearly 58 million pending judicial processes, despite having adjudicated and closed more than 30 million during that year1. In the state of Ceara alone, the state Court of Justice (TJCE) received 692,630 new judicial processes and ended the year with more than one million pending.2
These backlogs are not merely an administrative problem, as the efficiency of the judicial system has significant economic repercussions. The literature shows that delays in resolving judicial proceedings hamper contract enforcement and insolvency resolution, generating a negative effect on firms' credit and investment (Djankov et al., 2008; Ponticelli and Alencar, 2016; Visaria, 2009; Chemin, 2012). Similarly, reductions in judicial processing times have been associated with greater entrepreneurship (Chemin, 2009), firm performance (Chakraborty, 2016), and the country's economic growth and development (Amirapu, 2021; Djankov et al., 2025). The need to increase judicial productivity becomes even more relevant in a context in which artificial intelligence tools are also reducing the costs of access to justice and potentially increasing the volume of litigation faced by courts (Shah and Levy, 2026).
This paper analyzes whether providing judicial clerks with a tool based on natural language processing (NLP) that clusters similar rulings, allowing them to process cases in batches rather than one by one, increases their daily productivity relative to the traditional workflow. To this end, we carried out a pilot study to examine the consequences of introducing the MIDAS system (Mecanismo Identificador de Actos Similares -- Similar Acts Identification Mechanism) at the First-Degree Judicial Secretariat (SEJUD) of the Court of Justice of Ceara (TJCE), Brazil3. MIDAS is a tool that uses NLP and machine learning techniques to cluster judicial rulings by textual similarity. Whereas in the traditional workflow clerks must prepare each case file one by one, with MIDAS clerks can prepare multiple case files at once, thereby reducing the average time per case and increasing total output volume. This increase in productivity should, in principle, contribute to reducing the backlog, to the extent that it does not simply shift the bottleneck to another stage of the judicial process.
The study was conducted between June and August 2025 within the framework of the Modernization Program for the Judiciary of the State of Ceara (PROMOJUD), with support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The study compared the daily productivity of 62 clerks assigned to two groups: a treatment group that processed case files with the support of MIDAS, and a control group that followed the traditional workflow. The central element of the design was randomization at the level of the ruling or judicial act: within each cluster generated by the system, rulings were randomly reordered using a Python script, and a fraction was extracted to be processed individually by the control group. This mechanism ensures that the judicial acts assigned to both groups come from the same pool of rulings and are comparable in their observable and unobservable characteristics in expectation.
The results indicate that treatment-group clerks produced on average 10 more case files per day than control-group clerks, a statistically significant difference equivalent to a 37% increase relative to the control group mean. Furthermore, these results are robust to the exclusion of potentially outlying observations, which reinforces the robustness of the conclusions. In terms of workload, our estimates suggest that access to the tool reduces case file preparation time from approximately 16 to 12 minutes per case file, a gain of 4 minutes per case that, accumulated over the workday, allows clerks to process one-third more case files in the same amount of time. Furthermore, the tool appears to expand the right tail of the productivity distribution: days on which a clerk analyzes more than 100 case files are notably more frequent among those who used MIDAS. However, since the treatment group included both clerks with full adherence to the system and clerks with partial exposure, the estimated effects should be interpreted as a lower bound on the tool's true impact.
This paper contributes to the existing literature on the use of artificial intelligence to improve efficiency in the judicial sector (Aidid and Alarie, 2023; Casey and Niblett, 2019; Volokh, 2019). Prior studies have shown how these tools can be used to automate routine tasks, such as analyzing and processing evidence, conducting investigations, and classifying legal documents (de Oliveira and Nascimento, 2021; Oliveira and Sperandio Nascimento, 2025; Razmetaeva and Razmetaev, 2021; Solovey et al., 2025), allowing court staff to devote more time to other activities (Alarie et al., 2018; Borgesano et al., 2025). The literature also highlights their potential to assist in judicial decision-making and, in some cases, to partially substitute judges' functions (Chen et al., 2022; Volokh, 2019). Some countries already report productivity gains derived from their use, including Argentina and Brazil (de Sousa et al., 2022; OECD, 2025). Our study contributes to this growing body of research by being, to our knowledge, the first to estimate the impact of an NLP-based clustering tool on judicial staff productivity through a pilot study with randomization at the level of the judicial act.
The remainder of the paper is organized as follows: Section 2 describes how the intervention works, the MIDAS system, and its position within the Judicial Secretariat's workflow. Section 3 then presents the study design, while Section 4 describes the data used. Section 5 presents the preliminary results of the pilot study, as well as the lessons that should be considered in future studies. Finally, Section 6 discusses the study's main methodological limitations and concludes the paper.
* * *
View full text here: https://publications.iadb.org/en/ai-and-judicial-productivity-impact-midas-courts-fortaleza-brazil
[Category: IADB]
Innovation Leaders to Gather at GET Forum 2026 to Strengthen Latin America and the Caribbean's Entrepreneurial and Investment Ecosystems
WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release on Aug. 20, 2026:
* * *
Innovation Leaders to Gather at GET Forum 2026 to Strengthen Latin America and the Caribbean's Entrepreneurial and Investment Ecosystems
The IDB Group's flagship event to take place on October 5-7 in Ecuador.
-
Leaders from the global entrepreneurial ecosystem will gather in Quito, Ecuador, from October 5-7 for GET Forum 2026, the Inter-American Development Bank Group's (IDB Group) flagship event on innovation and early-stage investment for development. The forum aims to turn ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release on Aug. 20, 2026: * * * Innovation Leaders to Gather at GET Forum 2026 to Strengthen Latin America and the Caribbean's Entrepreneurial and Investment Ecosystems The IDB Group's flagship event to take place on October 5-7 in Ecuador. - Leaders from the global entrepreneurial ecosystem will gather in Quito, Ecuador, from October 5-7 for GET Forum 2026, the Inter-American Development Bank Group's (IDB Group) flagship event on innovation and early-stage investment for development. The forum aims to turnthe region's entrepreneurial drive into businesses, investment and development impact at scale.
More than 100 international speakers and 800 participants are expected to attend the high-level conference in Quito, along with over 2,000 attendees to the Innovation Village on the opening day. Confirmed speakers include Jeff Hoffman, Chairman of the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) and tech entrepreneur; venture capital leaders Rebeca Hwang and Nicolas Berman; Casey Weston, LinkedIn's Global Head of Labor and Economic Policy; Sariha Moya, Minister of Economic and Productive Development of Ecuador, and Maria Luisa Hayem, Minister of Economy of El Salvador.
"Entrepreneurial talent exists in every country. What determines whether that talent transforms an economy is the strength of the ecosystem around it," said Graham Macmillan, CEO of IDB Lab, the innovation and venture arm of the IDB Group. "Entrepreneurs need investors. Investors need market intelligence. Governments need evidence. Universities need industry partners. Innovation becomes development impact only when those connections exist -- and GET Forum is designed to build them."
"Ecuador is committed to making entrepreneurship, innovation and investment engines of long-term economic growth," said Minister Sariha Moya. "Hosting GET Forum gives us the opportunity to connect our entrepreneurs and businesses with global investors, technology leaders and partners, while positioning Ecuador as an active contributor to the region's innovation economy."
Despite high levels of entrepreneurial activity across the region, many promising innovations still struggle to reach scale. GET Forum serves as a convening platform bringing together founders, investors, policymakers, corporations, universities, development partners and ecosystem builders - to catalyze collaboration among them. For countries seeking new sources of productivity, competitiveness and quality employment, building those connections has become an economic imperative.
Co-organized by the IDB Group, the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), the Alliance for Entrepreneurship and Innovation of Ecuador (AEI), and the government of Ecuador, this year's GET Forum will focus on three priorities:
* Expanding economic opportunity through technology skills
* Scaling venture capital investment
* Shaping policies that enable stronger entrepreneurial and investment ecosystems
Artificial intelligence and digital transformation will cut across the agenda, with discussions examining how emerging technologies are reshaping businesses, labor markets and economic opportunity.
"The countries that will lead tomorrow's economy will be those that build stronger innovation ecosystems today," said Jonathan Ortmans, Founder and President of the GEN. "Connecting talent with capital, knowledge and global networks is not optional -- it is a prerequisite for sustained competitiveness."
Paulina Burbano de Lara, President of the Board of the AEI, said, "Ecuador brings together an exceptional combination of strengths: unique natural wealth, a diverse society with a deep entrepreneurial spirit, and a private sector ecosystem that believes in the country and connects talent, investment, and collaboration. GET Forum will provide an opportunity to showcase how the combination of these strengths enables us to respond to major global trends, transform ideas into impactful solutions, and position Ecuador as a global leader in innovation and entrepreneurship with worldwide reach."
As part of the GET Platform, IDB Lab's broader effort to strengthen entrepreneurial innovation ecosystems across the region, the forum goes beyond an annual gathering. It is a long-term mechanism for turning entrepreneurial innovation into development impact at scale.
Registration is now open at www.GETForumLAC.org.
See the full agenda and speakers here (https://bidlab.org/en/products/knowledge-and-connections/get-forum-2026#bidlab-widget-2186).
* * *
About the IDB Group
The Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) is the leading source of financing and knowledge for improving lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. It comprises the IDB, which works with the region's public sector and enables the private sector; IDB Invest, which directly supports private companies and projects; and IDB Lab, which spurs entrepreneurial innovation.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.iadb.org/en/news/innovation-leaders-gather-get-forum-2026-strengthen-latin-america-and-caribbeans-entrepreneurial-and
* * *
Innovation Leaders to Gather at GET Forum 2026 to Strengthen Latin America and the Caribbean's Entrepreneurial and Investment Ecosystems
The IDB Group's flagship event to take place on October 5-7 in Ecuador.
-
Leaders from the global entrepreneurial ecosystem will gather in Quito, Ecuador, from October 5-7 for GET Forum 2026, the Inter-American Development Bank Group's (IDB Group) flagship event on innovation and early-stage investment for development. The forum aims to turn ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release on Aug. 20, 2026: * * * Innovation Leaders to Gather at GET Forum 2026 to Strengthen Latin America and the Caribbean's Entrepreneurial and Investment Ecosystems The IDB Group's flagship event to take place on October 5-7 in Ecuador. - Leaders from the global entrepreneurial ecosystem will gather in Quito, Ecuador, from October 5-7 for GET Forum 2026, the Inter-American Development Bank Group's (IDB Group) flagship event on innovation and early-stage investment for development. The forum aims to turnthe region's entrepreneurial drive into businesses, investment and development impact at scale.
More than 100 international speakers and 800 participants are expected to attend the high-level conference in Quito, along with over 2,000 attendees to the Innovation Village on the opening day. Confirmed speakers include Jeff Hoffman, Chairman of the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) and tech entrepreneur; venture capital leaders Rebeca Hwang and Nicolas Berman; Casey Weston, LinkedIn's Global Head of Labor and Economic Policy; Sariha Moya, Minister of Economic and Productive Development of Ecuador, and Maria Luisa Hayem, Minister of Economy of El Salvador.
"Entrepreneurial talent exists in every country. What determines whether that talent transforms an economy is the strength of the ecosystem around it," said Graham Macmillan, CEO of IDB Lab, the innovation and venture arm of the IDB Group. "Entrepreneurs need investors. Investors need market intelligence. Governments need evidence. Universities need industry partners. Innovation becomes development impact only when those connections exist -- and GET Forum is designed to build them."
"Ecuador is committed to making entrepreneurship, innovation and investment engines of long-term economic growth," said Minister Sariha Moya. "Hosting GET Forum gives us the opportunity to connect our entrepreneurs and businesses with global investors, technology leaders and partners, while positioning Ecuador as an active contributor to the region's innovation economy."
Despite high levels of entrepreneurial activity across the region, many promising innovations still struggle to reach scale. GET Forum serves as a convening platform bringing together founders, investors, policymakers, corporations, universities, development partners and ecosystem builders - to catalyze collaboration among them. For countries seeking new sources of productivity, competitiveness and quality employment, building those connections has become an economic imperative.
Co-organized by the IDB Group, the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), the Alliance for Entrepreneurship and Innovation of Ecuador (AEI), and the government of Ecuador, this year's GET Forum will focus on three priorities:
* Expanding economic opportunity through technology skills
* Scaling venture capital investment
* Shaping policies that enable stronger entrepreneurial and investment ecosystems
Artificial intelligence and digital transformation will cut across the agenda, with discussions examining how emerging technologies are reshaping businesses, labor markets and economic opportunity.
"The countries that will lead tomorrow's economy will be those that build stronger innovation ecosystems today," said Jonathan Ortmans, Founder and President of the GEN. "Connecting talent with capital, knowledge and global networks is not optional -- it is a prerequisite for sustained competitiveness."
Paulina Burbano de Lara, President of the Board of the AEI, said, "Ecuador brings together an exceptional combination of strengths: unique natural wealth, a diverse society with a deep entrepreneurial spirit, and a private sector ecosystem that believes in the country and connects talent, investment, and collaboration. GET Forum will provide an opportunity to showcase how the combination of these strengths enables us to respond to major global trends, transform ideas into impactful solutions, and position Ecuador as a global leader in innovation and entrepreneurship with worldwide reach."
As part of the GET Platform, IDB Lab's broader effort to strengthen entrepreneurial innovation ecosystems across the region, the forum goes beyond an annual gathering. It is a long-term mechanism for turning entrepreneurial innovation into development impact at scale.
Registration is now open at www.GETForumLAC.org.
See the full agenda and speakers here (https://bidlab.org/en/products/knowledge-and-connections/get-forum-2026#bidlab-widget-2186).
* * *
About the IDB Group
The Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) is the leading source of financing and knowledge for improving lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. It comprises the IDB, which works with the region's public sector and enables the private sector; IDB Invest, which directly supports private companies and projects; and IDB Lab, which spurs entrepreneurial innovation.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.iadb.org/en/news/innovation-leaders-gather-get-forum-2026-strengthen-latin-america-and-caribbeans-entrepreneurial-and
Factory Floor Fridays: Chairman Jovanovic Visits EQT to See American Energy Dominance in Action
WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 -- The Export-Import Bank of the U.S. issued the following news release:
* * *
Factory Floor Fridays: Chairman Jovanovic Visits EQT to See American Energy Dominance in Action
*
WAYNESBURG, PA. -Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) Chairman John Jovanovic visited EQT's Waynesburg facility as part of its Factory Floor Fridays initiative. Factory Floor Fridays tell the story of the American Dream through the eyes of the companies and workers building the next generation of American industry-proving that with the right tools and support, U.S. innovation can compete ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 -- The Export-Import Bank of the U.S. issued the following news release: * * * Factory Floor Fridays: Chairman Jovanovic Visits EQT to See American Energy Dominance in Action * WAYNESBURG, PA. -Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) Chairman John Jovanovic visited EQT's Waynesburg facility as part of its Factory Floor Fridays initiative. Factory Floor Fridays tell the story of the American Dream through the eyes of the companies and workers building the next generation of American industry-proving that with the right tools and support, U.S. innovation can competeand win anywhere in the world.
During the visit, Chairman Jovanovic met with company leaders and discussed how EQT's operations in the Appalachian Basin make the United States a global energy leader. Under President Trump's leadership, EXIM is focused on unleashing American dominance and ensuring that U.S. energy molecules and technologies reach every corner of the globe.
"Natural gas drives jobs here at home and American competitiveness abroad," said Chairman John Jovanovic. "Pennsylvania has long been the home of American energy, and companies like EQT continue that legacy. By leveraging U.S. energy molecules, EQT is creating well-paying domestic jobs, bolstering industry and supply chain resiliency, and ensuring that American energy leadership translates into prosperity across the globe."
"America has an incredible competitive advantage in the workers, manufacturers and abundant energy resources that power our economy," said Toby Z. Rice, President and CEO of EQT. "Chairman Jovanovic understands that advantage and the important role EXIM can play in turning American strength at home into American leadership around the world. Factory Floor Fridays is a great way to highlight the world-class companies and people building things here in America, and we're proud to show how Appalachia's natural gas industry can help fuel the next generation of American manufacturing, exports and economic growth."
"American manufacturers are the backbone of our economic security," Jovanovic added. "Factory Floor Fridays give everyday Americans the opportunity to hear from businesses large and small-which account for nearly 90 percent of our transactions-and ensure they have the financing tools they need to compete, grow, and win in global markets."
When EXIM was founded 92 years ago, its mission was simple: support America's economic recovery from the Great Depression by creating well-paying jobs and rebuilding the nation's manufacturing base. Under President Trump's leadership, EXIM is once again a frontline economic tool to revitalize America's economy and define a future led by U.S. innovation.
ABOUT EXIM:
As the United States government's official export credit agency, the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) supports American jobs by facilitating U.S. exports. As an independent agency, EXIM plays a critical role in supporting economic growth, securing critical supply chains, and ensuring American businesses are given a fighting chance. To achieve this mission, EXIM offers financing including export credit insurance, working capital guarantees, loan guarantees, and direct loans. Learn more at www.exim.gov.
***
Original text here: https://www.exim.gov/news/factory-floor-fridays-chairman-jovanovic-visits-eqt-see-american-energy-dominance-action
* * *
Factory Floor Fridays: Chairman Jovanovic Visits EQT to See American Energy Dominance in Action
*
WAYNESBURG, PA. -Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) Chairman John Jovanovic visited EQT's Waynesburg facility as part of its Factory Floor Fridays initiative. Factory Floor Fridays tell the story of the American Dream through the eyes of the companies and workers building the next generation of American industry-proving that with the right tools and support, U.S. innovation can compete ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 -- The Export-Import Bank of the U.S. issued the following news release: * * * Factory Floor Fridays: Chairman Jovanovic Visits EQT to See American Energy Dominance in Action * WAYNESBURG, PA. -Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) Chairman John Jovanovic visited EQT's Waynesburg facility as part of its Factory Floor Fridays initiative. Factory Floor Fridays tell the story of the American Dream through the eyes of the companies and workers building the next generation of American industry-proving that with the right tools and support, U.S. innovation can competeand win anywhere in the world.
During the visit, Chairman Jovanovic met with company leaders and discussed how EQT's operations in the Appalachian Basin make the United States a global energy leader. Under President Trump's leadership, EXIM is focused on unleashing American dominance and ensuring that U.S. energy molecules and technologies reach every corner of the globe.
"Natural gas drives jobs here at home and American competitiveness abroad," said Chairman John Jovanovic. "Pennsylvania has long been the home of American energy, and companies like EQT continue that legacy. By leveraging U.S. energy molecules, EQT is creating well-paying domestic jobs, bolstering industry and supply chain resiliency, and ensuring that American energy leadership translates into prosperity across the globe."
"America has an incredible competitive advantage in the workers, manufacturers and abundant energy resources that power our economy," said Toby Z. Rice, President and CEO of EQT. "Chairman Jovanovic understands that advantage and the important role EXIM can play in turning American strength at home into American leadership around the world. Factory Floor Fridays is a great way to highlight the world-class companies and people building things here in America, and we're proud to show how Appalachia's natural gas industry can help fuel the next generation of American manufacturing, exports and economic growth."
"American manufacturers are the backbone of our economic security," Jovanovic added. "Factory Floor Fridays give everyday Americans the opportunity to hear from businesses large and small-which account for nearly 90 percent of our transactions-and ensure they have the financing tools they need to compete, grow, and win in global markets."
When EXIM was founded 92 years ago, its mission was simple: support America's economic recovery from the Great Depression by creating well-paying jobs and rebuilding the nation's manufacturing base. Under President Trump's leadership, EXIM is once again a frontline economic tool to revitalize America's economy and define a future led by U.S. innovation.
ABOUT EXIM:
As the United States government's official export credit agency, the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) supports American jobs by facilitating U.S. exports. As an independent agency, EXIM plays a critical role in supporting economic growth, securing critical supply chains, and ensuring American businesses are given a fighting chance. To achieve this mission, EXIM offers financing including export credit insurance, working capital guarantees, loan guarantees, and direct loans. Learn more at www.exim.gov.
***
Original text here: https://www.exim.gov/news/factory-floor-fridays-chairman-jovanovic-visits-eqt-see-american-energy-dominance-action