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Copenhagen Consensus Center

Copenhagen Consensus for Latin America

Copenhagen Consensus for Latin America and the Carribean took place in San José, Costa Rica, 22-25 October 2007 at the INCAE Business School, Alajuela, in cooperation with the Inter-American Development Bank

Over the course of three days, outstanding economists received in-depth knowledge about economic analyses by specialists on major challenges facing the region resulting in an overview and ranking of the best solutions to these challenges.

The overall objective of the project was to identify a clear and well-argued list of proposals for efficient solutions to some of the most important challenges facing the region. From the challenge of employment and social security over poverty and inequality to fiscal issues, the Inter-American Development Bank in conjunction with the Copenhagen Consensus Center gathered a group of highly esteemed economists at the conference ‘Consulta de San José' to help answer the question:

If Latin America were willing to spend, say, $10 billion more over the next five years on improving welfare, which projects would have the greatest benefits?

The answer came in the form of a list of priorities put together by the economists based on thorough economic analyses of the major challenges facing the region. Twenty regional and international specialists/economists provided these economic analyses alongside the costs and benefits of implementing specific solutions to the challenges.

“This project will draw attention to the real problems facing Latin America but – more importantly – it will draw attention to their solutions” - Bjorn Lomborg, Director of Copenhagen Consensus Center

“This project will draw attention to the real problems facing Latin America but – more importantly – it will draw attention to their solutions” said Bjorn Lomborg, Director of Copenhagen Consensus Center, prior to the conference. “It will allow decision makers to focus on spending money on the things that do the most good.”

Based on the Copenhagen Consensus framework, a team of highly esteemed economists drawn from Latin America and elsewhere weighed up various spending options and completed a prioritized list of solutions, carefully considering their costs and benefits.

“The conference will provide a chance to discuss how the Latin-American community can get more welfare for its money.” -  Louis Moreno, President of the Inter-American Development Bank 

Leading up to the event, President of the Inter-American Development Bank Louis Moreno said: “The conference will provide a chance to discuss how the Latin-American community can get more welfare for its money. We expect the result of the conference to be an eye-opener for the decision-makers of this region, the public in general, and the scholarly community engaged in the development of Latin America.”