Recent Publications

The Politics of Race: Census, Mestizaje and identity.

This study shows that it's not necessary, as well as it is harmful, to make an identity question in the current census in Bolivia. Public policy doesn't need identity data to be designed. They can also be more effective if they are designed for cultural repertoires and not for identity groups. Finally, it's stated that such questions can be harmful for social cohesion.

Waiting for Mestizaje to come

The aim of this study is to analyze the influence of the political discourse in the construction of racial identities in the city of La Paz. The study focuses on the debate generated around the Law against Racial Discrimination and all kinds of Discrimination, approved in October of 2010 as a case study. Focus groups and discourse analysis were used. The research concludes that even though the political discourse does influence racial constructions, people still challenge official racial discourse and keep their agency regarding the racial constructions that shape their social world.

Role of Evidence Based Research in the Policy Making Process: The case of Bolivia

This paper attempts to understand the policy making process in Bolivia. At first in relation to its dynamic, i.e. regarding its constituent stages, the stakeholders, the role of context and the level of institutionalization. Secondly, it is to see what role plays Evidence Based Research in this process, regarding the practice of using it, the stakeholders' capabilities of using it, the demand and supply of evidence and finally its quality.

Estimation of Child Malnutrition Indicators in Micro Levels: Bolivian Case

One of the constraints to addressing child malnutrition is the lack of information. This article uses the estimation technique of Elbers, Lanjouw and Lanjouw with ENDSA and census information. Thus we obtain estimates at lower levels of aggregation, which can be used to provide useful information at a municipal level.

Temporary Employment Programs, Consumption Smoothing and Employability

This paper identifies the effect of the “Emergency Plan of National Employment” (PLANE) implemented in Bolivia, on per capita calorie intake, future employment prospects and earnings. The study finds that the program was not a good alternative to improve the employability of vulnerable populations, although it helps to smooth poor household’s consumption.

Binding Constraints: Does Firm Size Matter?

In order to find evidence about how important the size firm is at the moment to face distinct obstacles, using firm level data from the 2010 Enterprise Survey for Bolivia, the paper attempt to reach results that allow to identify especific constraints for firms through an IV-ordered probit. These finding are important because they could help to improve performance of firms.

Entrepreneurship and Economic Mobility: A Case Study of Bolivia

Starting by identifying “real” entrepreneurs, the paper evaluates their economic mobility in comparison to other types of self-employed workers and employees. Our estimates show that employers have, on average, greater unpredictability of labor income but a more stable aggregate household income. We find that they are much more likely to move upwards and end in the upper class income and that, despite their significantly different mobility patterns, employers do not display remarkable differences in their socioeconomic profile relative to their counterparts in other types of self-employment except in two particular covariates: educational attainment and health.

Job Training and Employability: Evidence from Mi Primer Empleo Digno

This document presents an impact evaluation of the pilot program Mi Primer Empleo Digno (MPED), program addressed to low income youth from January 2009 to June 2010 in main cities of Bolivia. Through to estimation of “Local Average Treatment Effect” (LATE) of the treatment we found that people who meet the selection rules have increased their participation, employability and "formal" job chances.

Evolution of Poverty in Bolivia: A Multidimensional Approach

This paper builds a multidimensional poverty measure for Bolivia based on fundamental rights established in the 2008 Constitution that can be measured in surveys through 5 non-monetary dimensions. According to the analysis, non-monetary poverty has remained stubbornly high during the last decade in Bolivia.

Estimating Reservation Wage Distribution

This paper studies the reservation wage distribution. Using a simple labor supply model we found that: the reservation wage level is lower than expected wages; and that the reservation wages for the inactive population stochastically dominate the distribution for the unemployed population, and in turn, the latter stochastically dominates the distribution for the employed population.

Evolution of Employment Structure and Labor Earnings in Bolivia 1999-2009

This paper presents the evolution of Employment and Incomes Structure observed during the period 1999-2009. The study shows that there were increases in employment rate and average remuneration, as well as decreases in unemployment, underemployment and discourage rates. It is also noticeable that the salary structure was clearly modified in benefit of low-paid segments.