Simon Cueva

I'm pleased to share our new technical report - Education Funding Model in Costa Rica: Analysis of School Boards - https://lnkd.in/d263XThG -examining Costa Rica's unique model of school funding through local education and administrative boards. This analysis, co-authored with T. Beirute, L. Biehl, J. Margitic & A. Thalinger and developed in close collaboration with the NGO Caricaco, reveals both the potential and challenges of this decentralized system where community volunteers manage between 20-30% of educational funding (excluding teacher salaries) at the school level. Key findings include: • Two-thirds of board members have not completed high school • Coordination between administrative levels is weak • Significant gaps exist in transparency and monitoring systems • Resource allocation is often misaligned with educational needs These findings were instrumental in developing key components of our recent IDB operation (led by Loreto Biehl and Marta Paraiso) and are currently informing policy proposals to strengthen these boards. Our recommendations focus on: • Implementing equity-based funding formulas • Strengthening board member capacities through training  • Improving digital monitoring systems • Better aligning resource allocation with educational planning and outcomes The evidence and proposals presented in this report are already shaping discussions about educational governance reform in Costa Rica.

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Results of the AméricaEconomía MBA Latin America 2024 Ranking On September 25th, the results of the AméricaEconomía MBA Latin America 2024 ranking were published, featuring two Peruvian universities: Universidad del Pacífico and USIL, alongside 36 other institutions from the region. 🎓 📊 Key Highlights: - This marks the third time USIL has participated, and it has climbed one position, currently ranking 35th out of the 38 universities considered (37 universities were evaluated in 2023). 📈 - The Pacífico Business School of Universidad del Pacífico stands out as the top-ranked Peruvian institution, securing the 5th place in Latin America. 🏅 📈 Changes in the 2024 scores compared to 2023: USIL shows improvements across most indicators, with the highest score in the Return on Investment category (63.6/100). 💡 Additional Ranking: Average Monthly Income of Graduates In an additional ranking based on the average monthly income of 2021 graduates, USIL ranked 31st, with alumni reporting an average salary of $2,624. Moreover, 44% indicated a salary increase upon completing the program. 📌 Key Takeaways: - USIL is the second Peruvian university listed in the AméricaEconomía ranking. - The magazine highlighted that USIL is among the top 10 MBA programs with the highest female representation in executive roles. It's worth noting that specialized MBAs are gaining more importance over traditional ones in today’s market. #MBA #AméricaEconomíaMBA #HigherEducation #USIL #ProfessionalDevelopment

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The abstract from my 2022 paper, "Can Dollarization Constrain a Populist Leader?", published in the Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization: "Rafael Correa's presidency in Ecuador (2007 – 2017) exemplifies left-leaning populist regimes in Latin America. However, there is a key difference: Ecuador is a dollarized economy. This removes the possibility of fiscal dominance over monetary policy as is common in populist regimes. This paper studies how dollarization constraints a populist leader. We discuss the incentives of a budget constraint immune to monetization and the failed attempt to launch a national digital currency." Link: https://lnkd.in/ewJGMCCg

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It was a pleasure to be with a distinguished and impressive group of global experts discussing Project 23.919 for the regulation of AI in Costa Rica 🇨🇷 , led by Congressman Oscar Izquierdo and organized by the Global Network of Centers. This initiative has the potential to benefit many other policymakers in the region who are engaged in similar discussions about AI governance. The workshop was possible due to the support and teamwork of Kirsten Müller-Daubermann, Noha Lea Halim, Ana María Castillo, Camila Hidalgo, Fernanda S. and Lionel Brossi. We had the opportunity to discuss various building blocks of this regulation and explore how research on ethics and governance of AI can aid in its drafting and implementation. It is necessary to delve into capabilities to improve data quality, promote the interoperability of principles, ensure the protection of human rights, define the specific impacts of AI, and encourage experimentation. We will be sharing the main recommendations and feedback from the experts in the coming weeks. Hellen Monge, Boris Paal, Sandra Cortesi, Christian DjeffalUrs Gasser, Elisabeth Sylvan, Christian Fieseler, Carlos Affonso Souza, Celina Mendes de Almeida Bottino, María Isabel Mejía Jaramillo, Victor Manuel Muñoz Rodriguez, Thiago Moraes, Sissi De la Peña CC: TUM Think Tank, Instituto de Tecnologia e Sociedade (ITS Rio), Nordic Centre for Internet and Society , AMCID_Mx

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🌐 The structural challenges deepening the crisis in Chilean universities 📉 In recent days, Chile's university system has been shaken by the financial crises affecting several HEd institutions. Just this week, one university announced the dismissal of 300 staff members—a situation that mirrors events at other public and private universities and could recur soon at institutions recklessly spending resources to satisfy the whims of their leadership, a particularly critical issue when most of these funds come from public resources. ⚠️ The growing financial instability of Chilean universities has exposed critical weaknesses within the system. These challenges are not isolated, but rather reflect structural issues that demand urgent attention to secure the future of higher education in the country. 🔑 A key concern: Lack of professionalization. 🏫 Many institutions face significant gaps in the expertise and leadership capabilities of senior executives and administrative teams, leaving considerable room for improving efficiency in management and resource utilization. 🔎 This issue is even more acute when it involves teams working on quality assurance processes, where the complexity of standards and evaluations demands a high level of professionalism. ☢️ These shortcomings undermine the strategic capacity of universities to adapt to evolving economic, technological, and societal demands. 🏴‍☠️ The influence of entrenched interest groups. 🚩 Often, groups coalesce around institutional leadership, seeking to maintain power and access to resources. ☠️ This creates a toxic dynamic where individuals in decision-making bodies—such as University Councils—benefit from the decisions made, prioritizing their own interests over the institution's long-term sustainability. 🚨 This distorted governance model leads to inefficiencies in resource allocation, exacerbating financial strain and weakening institutional integrity. 📊 The risks are clear: Together, these challenges expose systemic vulnerabilities in Chilean universities. Weak governance, inefficient management, and politicized decision-making are eroding their ability to fulfill their academic and social missions. 🛠️ What’s needed? 1️⃣ Modernize governance and management: Professionalize leadership and administrative practices. 2️⃣ Prioritize institutional sustainability: Focus on merit-based decisions and long-term goals. 3️⃣ Foster transparency and accountability: Ensure efficient and ethical resource allocation. 🌟 A call to action Addressing these issues requires a systemic commitment to reform. Only through decisive action can Chilean universities regain financial stability, enhance their global competitiveness, and fulfill their essential role in society. #BetterHE #MejorEducaciónSuperior

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📢 Third World Quarterly - Special Issue 📚 Call for Papers 🌎 "Comparative Policy Analysis in Latin America: Development, Methods, and Issues" Guest Editors: Nelson D. Cardozo (Universidad Argentina de la Empresa) Adela Romero-Tarín (University of Alicante) Understanding policy innovation and implementation in Latin America has become crucial in today's global challenges. This special issue explores comparative approaches, state reforms, and policy responses across the region. Key Dates: 📅 Abstract Deadline: Dec 1, 2024 ✅ Notification: Jan 15, 2025 📎 Final Papers: April 30, 2025 Submit: Abstract (500 words) Title & Keywords Author info & affiliation 📧 Send to: [email protected] [email protected] 🔍 Topics include: 📌 State reforms 📌 Policy implementation 📌 COVID-19 responses 📌Development models 📌Sectoral policies 🎯 Looking for innovative comparative approaches and fresh insights from Latin America! 👥 Share with your networks! 🤝 #LatinAmerica #PublicPolicy #Academia

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Translated from the original: "I am pleased to have contributed input to the development of the report "Ecuador Country Climate and Development Report (hashtag#CCDR)" launched today by the hashtag#World_Bank in Quito. I recommend reading it. It is a study that shows the interrelations between economic development, adaptation and mitigation to climate change, presenting excellent suggestions for economic policy to advance towards the energy transition with security, resilience and economic growth. Congratulations to the Bank team that produced the document. We used our integrated Ecuador model #ELENA, based on the #MESSAGE tool, to model different scenarios for the energy, transport, agriculture and land use sectors until 2050. This includes scenarios in which Ecuador would reach net annual emissions equal to zero in 2050. These results and analysis fed into the World Bank's computable general equilibrium macroeconomic model to estimate long-term macroeconomic impacts." Full report: https://lnkd.in/eW_w4fSJ

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This am's 'transformation of habit' conference session in Parma was all about the extent to which the infrastructure that surrounds us allows uncertainty to surface, and the link with our retaining the 'spirit of enquiry' without which normative agency withers away. Thank you Italo Testa, and more widely the super-impressive 'Phil Habits' network (https://lnkd.in/g2_umqrN) - If you're working on philosophical accounts of habit and their role in social transformation, Italy is the place to be! https://lnkd.in/gDx7nSfg

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🚀 **𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐌𝐲 𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐫!** 🚀 In my article, I dive deep into how 𝐀𝐈 is reshaping 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 through different eras: 🔹 𝐒𝐨𝐟𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐫𝐚 (📜 3000 BCE - early 20th century): Credit was highly limited and based on personal trust, reputation, and relationships. Only a select few with strong community ties had access to loans. 🔹 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐫𝐚 (💼 mid-20th century): Credit availability expanded but relied on formal records like credit scores. Many individuals without established financial histories were still excluded. 🔹 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐄𝐫𝐚 (💻 2000s): The rise of big data and machine learning increased credit accessibility for some, but fintech companies often focused on profitable segments, leaving lower-income groups underserved. 🔹 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐈 𝐄𝐫𝐚 (🤖 today): AI blurs the lines between hard and soft data, creating the potential for more inclusive credit access. However, risks of exclusion and biases remain, necessitating careful implementation. Explore the full article below 👉

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I am thrilled to share my latest article published in Araucaria. Revista Iberoamericana de Filosofía, Política. The title is For the sake of Venezuela: Power-Sharing mechanism challenges and opportunities. This essay paper delves into the challenges and prospects of adopting power-sharing as a strategy by elites not only for maintaining peace but also, crucially, for pacification processes in Venezuela. Starting with a general assessment of Venezuelan democracy, the article identifies factors that may hinder consociational democracy. It also analyzes the sociopolitical elements that favor autocracy and partitocracy, before discussing the current challenges and opportunities of power-sharing. Key Points: The Role of Venezuelan Elites: Examines how the lack of Elite circulation contributes to political stagnation. Relationship between Democracy and State-Building: Explores the impact of autocratization on these processes. Power-Sharing challenges and Opportunities: Discusses how this mechanism can be a viable tool for pacification. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the discussion on pathways to a more stable and democratic Venezuela. Thank you to Dr. Hermosa Andújar, and the team of reviewers for their valuable input. You can read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dDRxPkad

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IRI’s Technology and Democracy Practice joined the Artificial Intelligence: Technological Challenges to Development summit organized by APEC and the U.S. Embassy in Peru lats week. Held at Universidad San Martin de Porres in collaboration with the U.S. Department of State, the summit convened journalists, civil society, government officials and staff, and INGOs for high-level discussions on the opportunities and risks AI presents to development and democracy. During the conference, IRI presented its findings from its white paper on generative AI - titled Democracy In the Age of Generative AI: Navigating Risks and harnessing Opportunities – followed by an IRI-organized panel discussion with leading LAC-based thinkers on this topic. The white paper and its findings are the product of discussions and analysis from IRI’s Generative AI and Democracy Working Group, where 30+ experts from around the globe discussed risks, opportunities and recommendations for democracy actors to safely navigate and understand GenAI’s impacts on democracy. Following IRI’s presentation of key white paper findings, a panel discussion focused on actionable steps to leverage genAI for good, featuring a representative from the Congress in Uruguay, Congressman Rodrigo Goni, and two leading Peruvian thinkers, Elaine Ford from Democracia Digital and Rommel Infante from Empatia Lab. If you missed the presentation, take a look at the recording: https://lnkd.in/euEyenVj IRI will fully launch the white paper in September – stay tuned for more information!

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📢 Special Issue "Applications of Fuzzy Set Theory and Decision-Making in Business, Finance, and Engineering Using Empirical Mathematical Models" is open for submissions. Please contact [email protected] or Dr. Fernando Castelló Sirvent and Dr. Ernesto Leon Castro if you are interested in. #multicriteriadecisionmaking (#MCDM) fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (fuzzy-AHP) #fuzzy control fuzzy neural systems fuzzy optimization techniques risk management in business and finance fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (#fsQCA) https://lnkd.in/gcB73Yg8

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We are thrilled to announce the publication of our latest research paper, “Emerging Market Multinationals’ Embeddedness in Global South Countries: An Empirical Study of Chinese MNEs in Peru,” in the prestigious journal Critical Perspectives on International Business. Study Overview: This study examines the strategies of Chinese state-owned enterprises in Peru, shedding light on their high-level political engagement and the local grassroots resistance they face. Our findings advocate a shift towards more inclusive and cooperative approaches, underscoring the importance of 'translocal governance' for multinational enterprises operating in the Global South. Read the full text here: https://lnkd.in/gNzEjh6X Key Insights: - Dynamics of stakeholder relationships and power configuration in emerging markets. - Practical strategies for EMNEs to enhance their local embeddedness and societal contributions. - Theoretical advancements in understanding multinational operations in the Global South context. This research enriches academic discourse and offers practical insights for businesses and policymakers engaged with emerging market multinationals. I extend my heartfelt thanks to my co-authors, Dominique Mazé and Jorge Alcaraz; working with them has been an amazing experience. Brest Business School, Universidad de Monterrey, EGADE Business School del Tecnológico de Monterrey

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The Academy of Management #AOM2024 innovating for the future in Diario La República from Colombia A landscape for the most important association in management and organizational studies (MOS) in the world, highlighting the importance of frugal innovation. https://lnkd.in/e7CVG33H

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What Jumps Out : Central Bank As Expected (sigh) Yesterday (Tuesday) Banco de la República - Colombia cut rates by 50bps to 11.75%, as expected by 99% of analysts. There really isn't too much to add. The accompanying press releases and conference once again pointed to the fact that inflation continues to ease and that allows further easing, however there are a couple of takeaways. Five of the directors voted for a 50bps cut, one for 75bps and another for a full 1% cut. Judging my Ministerio de Hacienda Bonilla's comments it is a fair guess that his was the 1% vote. Following on from Gustavo Petro's comments on Sunday, after the Government's weekend retreat, that measures to reactivate the economy were to be delivered to Congress, Bonilla after the Central Bank's meeting made it clear that if the committee weren't prepared to cut rates faster, the Government would need to raise debt ceilings in order to inject money into the economy. Higher rates are simply a barrier to the economy recovering. "There unanimity in the desire to continue cutting rates, but we have not achieved agreement in the depth needed in order to reactivate the economy" Whilst few anticipated anything except a 50bps cut, it is obvious that with inflation having receded to close to 7% and expected to drop to 5.5% by year end, rates are going to drop a lot more - the latest Fedesarrollo survey anticipates a year end overnight rate 8.25%. However, this causes a dilemma because if consumers know rates are set to fall considerably over the next 7 months - why would they step in now to take out a mortgage or a loan for a car ? Of course there are floating loan rates but psychologically many will be tempted to wait. The next stop is the April inflation data from Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística - DANE Colombia which is due out early next week. regards Roops #Colombia #Inflation #Interestrates #Elniño

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🌎 Is Critical Geopolitics useful? The academics in the photo think that it is an appropriate tool to unravel a #World in #crisis 🇺🇾 This week the CALAS Maria Sibylla Merian Center organized a symposium, in the Universidad de la República, #Uruguay, entitled “Old and New Geopolitical perspectives in Latin America: Tensions and Challenges" ⛏ The equation is more or less simple: the vulnerabilities of the region seem related to the exponential increase of the global demand for its strategic natural resources and the environmental impacts of its extraction. In the background there are some political tensions (and polarizations) that connect the Global and the local Thanks to Hans-Jürgen Burchardt, Carmen Midaglia, Gustavo Bittencourt, Lucas Christel, Jochen Kemner, Jaime Antonio Preciado Coronado , Vanni Pettina, Diana Tussie, Luis Bértola, Débora Ascencio, Marta Castilho, Felipe Martinez Fernandez, Javier Pérez Ibáñez, Hannes Warnecke, Juan Kornblihtt, Gabriel Oyhantçabal Benelli, Roberto Lagos Flores, Maurício Vieira, Ph.D., Leandro González, Mónica Nieves, miguel angel urquijo pineda, Bruno Theodoro Luciano, Amalia Margarita Stuhldreher, María Emilia Val, Rebeca Ramos, Damián Rodríguez #commodities #environment #geopolitics #International_Relations #latinamerica

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