Search

This paper attempts to provide empirical evidence on whether two variables potentially affecting firms' liquidity needs have an impact on inflation. Before doing that, since we are interested in the portion of inflation that can be linked to firms' willingness to produce goods, we identify supply inflation: the part of aggregate GDP-inflation that can be explained by shifts in aggregate supply. Specifically, we test the impacts of corporate bond financing and depreciation on supply inflation and markups for several Latin American countries. Results show that domestic currency depreciation robustly increases supply inflation and aggregate markups, but corporate bond financing does not affect supply inflation. Presumably, when a depreciation occurs, financial constraints for the economy's supply-side become binding and lead to increasing domestic prices. These results provide an alternative description to the exchange rate pass-through narrative. In several countries, since a sizable part of depreciation can be explained by the global financial cycle, there is also a potential transmission mechanism from advanced countries' monetary policy actions to supply inflation – through depreciation – in Latin American countries. • We separate supply from demand inflation in GDP-inflation. • The impacts of corporate bond financing and depreciation on supply inflation are estimated. • Results show that a depreciation increases supply inflation and markups in Latam countries. • Price increases with depreciation presumably reflect suppliers' greater financing needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the benefits of social media for enhancing citizens’ interactions with their local governments are well known in a more global context, few studies have focused on Latin America, or on the MERCOSUR countries in particular. This paper examines the use of dialogic strategies in the social media activities of local governments in MERCOSUR countries in order to generate citizens’ online engagement. Analysis of this question enhances our understanding of the use of social media by local governments in less developed countries and highlights the need for empirical evidence on the use of dialogic communication theory regarding stakeholder engagement with social media. The findings obtained reflect the positive influence of dialogic strategies on citizens’ online engagement, particularly those based on dialogic loop , useful information and generation of return visits, aimed at fostering participation via social media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Policymakers in less developed countries (LDCs) usually support competitive devaluations to improve the trade balance (TB). In this paper, we estimate the effects of appreciated and depreciated real exchange rates (RER) in the TB of Argentina and Brazil during the period, 1990-2010 using co-integration tests for non-stationary data and vector error correction models (VECM). The estimations confirmed the existence of a long-term relationship among the TB and the RER and foreign and domestic incomes for the countries during opposite RER policies. Based on our estimations, the Marshall-Lerner condition held during periods of more flexible and depreciated RER, and the estimation of the general impulse response functions demonstrated that devaluations in both countries did not follow a J-curve pattern in the short-term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper draws on the Luxembourg Income Study (LIS) microdata to paint a portrait of child poverty across a diverse group of countries, as of 2004–2006. We will first synthesize past LIS-based research on child poverty, focusing on studies that aim to explain cross-national variation in child poverty rates. Our empirical sections will focus on child poverty in 20 high- and middle-income countries — including three Latin American countries, newly added to LIS. We will assess poverty among all households and among those with children, and using multiple poverty measures (relative and absolute, pre- and post-taxes and transfers). We will assess the effects of crucial micro-level factors – family structure, educational attainment, and labor market attachment – considering how the effects of these factors vary across counties. Finally, we will analyze the extent to which cross-national variation in child poverty is explained by families'' characteristics and/or by the effects of (or returns to) those characteristics. Those returns encompass both market and state-generated income. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of International Economics (2110-7017) is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)