Development Research Group

Over the last two decades, Latin America and the Caribbean has brought millions of adolescents into secondary education. But expanding access has not been enough: only about 1 in 5 young people (19%) complete secondary education with minimum proficiency in reading and math. Among the poorest youth, only about 1 in 20 (6%) achieve this.

How can this historic expansion be turned into better learning and real opportunities? As we await the new PISA results, we invite you to join the presentation of the World Bank’s new regional report on secondary education in Latin America and the Caribbean: Where Paths Divide: Transforming Secondary Education in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Governments across emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs) face a growing fiscal challenge. Yet the challenge is not simply about how much revenue countries collect. Tax systems in most EMDEs are also inefficient and inequitable, leading to costly economic distortions while failing to adequately support vulnerable households.

Raising Revenue Right: A Roadmap for Domestic Resource Mobilization examines how countries can raise the revenue they need in ways that are more efficient, fair, and supportive of inclusive growth. The report offers a practical roadmap for domestic resource mobilization, showing how advances in technology, transparency, and trust—the 3Ts—can help countries move toward the fiscal frontier.

At a time when development progress has slowed to its weakest pace in 75 years, the World Development Report 2026 explores how artificial intelligence can help developing economies accelerate growth and improve lives.

The report argues that countries do not need to build frontier AI models to benefit from the technology. Instead, they should focus on adopting, adapting, and advancing AI to meet local needs, languages, and institutions. From improving medical screening and agricultural advice to helping teachers create better lessons, AI is already delivering results.

Explore the full report and learn how AI can be a lifeline for developing economies.

The organizers of the 11th Urbanization and Development Conference invite submissions of high-quality academic papers in urban and regional economics, including (but not limited to) the economics of cities, housing, real estate, local public good provision, transportation, and the distribution of economic activity in space. The deadline to submit is September 4, 2026. 

This edition of the conference will take place in Singapore on December 14-16, 2026 in partnership with the 2026 SMU-Jinan Conference on Urban and Regional Economics.