You can find data on national accounts, inflation, unemployment, payment balance, fiscal indicators, international trade and raw material prices.
The IMF published a series of selected macroeconomic data and raw material prices by country and region, with a two year projection, as part of the statistical appendix to the biannual report on global economic prospects.
The region places between 56 and 125 in the world in harnessing information and telecommunication technologies (ICTs).
To calculate the placement, three areas were taken into account: Environment, Preparedness and Use. Environment measures the degree to which the country's general atmosphere promotes the development of ICTs, measuring factors such as market infrastructure and regulation.
The "Harmonization of Government Public Finance Statistics Project” which will seek to produce comparable fiscal data was begun.
In a report in Capitales.com, the purpose is stated thus: "…to compile and disseminate data that may provide a comparative analysis of the fiscal situation." The commentary by the finance minister of Costa Rica, Guillermo Zuniga was also published: "The project is very important for the region because by having quality information that is properly harmonized we can do a fiscal analysis in the midst of the current situation which is crucial for decision making."
In Central America Costa Rica is at the top (with 48 in overall ranking), followed by Panama (62), El Salvador (103), Nicaragua (110), Honduras (115), and Guatemala (118).
The United Nations Program for Development published the 2007/2008 Human Development Report with the current ranking of countries under the banner of the general perspective of the fight against climate change: Solidarity in a divided world.
According tot he Latin Barometer Report, the perception by people is that is it is possible: 31% in El Salvador, 33% in Costa Rica, in Nicaragua 34%, Honduras 35%, Panama 41%, and Guatemala 44%.
According to surveys throughout Latin America, it is easier to bribe a police officer than a judge. 54% of Venezuelans and Argentinians say that a judge can be bribed. In Paraguay it is at 47%. Chile is the last on the list, at 18%.
Fuel is most expensive in Costa Rica and Nicaragua, and cheapest in Panama.
This is one of the data presented in the recent Cepal report: "The Central American Isthmus: Hydrocarbon Statistics 2007."
The report makes a general conclusion for region on cost of fuel in the region regarding the total commercial balance. In 2006, the import of Hydrocarbons represented 15.5% of exports, while in 2007 this figure was at 17.1%.
Costa Rica is second in Latin America with an index of 27. Panama is at 43, El Salvador 67, Honduras 74, Nicaragua 78, Guatemala 79.
The results of the Economist Intelligence Unit's Democracy Index 2008 confirm that, following a decades-long global trend in democratisation, the spread of democracy has come to a halt. Comparing the results for 2008 with those from the first edition of the index, which covered 2006, shows that the dominant pattern in the past two years has been stagnation. Although there is no recent trend of outright regression, there are few instances of significant improvement. However, the global financial crisis, resulting in a sharp and possibly protracted recession, could threaten democracy in some parts of the world.
Between one fourth and one half of income inequality observed among Latin America and the Caribbean adults is due to personal circumstances endured during childhood that fell outside of their control or responsibility.
The new Human Opportunity Index, developed by a Group of economists from the World Bank, Argentina and Brazil, shows how personal circumstances play in gaining or preventing access to those services needed for a productive life, such as running water, sanitation, electricity or basic education among children in the region. This opens up a whole new field of study dedicated to designing public policy focused on equity.
Between one fourth and one half of income inequality observed among Latin America and the Caribbean adults is due to personal circumstances endured during childhood that fell outside of their control or responsibility.
The new Human Opportunity Index, developed by a Group of economists from the World Bank, Argentina and Brazil, shows how personal circumstances play in gaining or preventing access to those services needed for a productive life, such as running water, sanitation, electricity or basic education among children in the region. This opens up a whole new field of study dedicated to designing public policy focused on equity.
Costa Rica is first in Latin America with an index of 10.00. Panama is at 6.50, Honduras 4.20, El Salvador 4.18, Nicaragua 3.86, Guatemala 3.44.
The Konrad Adenauer Foundation presented the seventh annual report of the Democratic Development Index for Latin America -2008.
As in previous years, the exciting challenge of observing, monitoring and evaluating the behavior of Governments and societies in the region regarding the democratic development dimensions once again presents a region that far from showing a group of countries in a coherent and convergent march towards development, instead reflecting a complex and assorted variety of situations.
A realistic look at the challenges of sustainable human development in Central America.
How is Central America doing?
A realistic look at the present and future.
The State of the Region Report is an instrument from Central America and for Central America. It purpose is to provide a follow-up to the challenges of sustainable human development in the region. It seeks to offer information and analysis the Central Americans with the objective of:
Insecurity and high living costs are the main concerns of Central Americans, said Esteban Alvarez, the new general manager of CID Gallup in Costa Rica.
Alvarez said the main challenge he faces is to increase the capacity that has made CID Gallup Latinoamérica a full-service agency for regional coverage.
Increasingly companies are asking CID Gallup not only to undertake market studies but also to provide the consultancy that can produce results, Alvarez added.
El Salvador's score improved most, while Honduras and Nicaragua were the worst. Venezuela has replaced Costa Rica in the fourth-highest technology level.
Helped by a strong increase in wireless, PC, Internet and broadband penetration, Latin America is boosting its technology level, according to the third annual Latin Technology Index from Latin Business Chronicle.