nep-lam 2025-05-19 papers

on Central and South America

Issue of 2025–05–19
two papers chosen by
Maximo Rossi, Universidad de la RepÃÃººblica

Funding options for long-term care services in Latin America and the Caribbean By Fabiani, Beatrice; Costa-Font, Joan; Aranco, Natalia; Stampini, Marco; Ibarrarán, Pablo
Cannabis Regulations and Crime: A Meta-Analysis By Castillo Cuello, María; Suescún Salazar, Cecilia; Weintraub, Michael; Marín-Llanes, Lucas

Funding options for long-term care services in Latin America and the Caribbean

By:	Fabiani, Beatrice; Costa-Font, Joan; Aranco, Natalia; Stampini, Marco; Ibarrarán, Pablo
Abstract:	Demographic and social changes Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) have called the traditional system of long-term care service provision into question, prompting many countries to prioritize long-term care reform on their social policy and fiscal agendas. One of the issues at hand is determining the expected service costs as well as the financial viability and sustainability of various funding options. To date, estimating the demand for care in Latin American countries is limited due to the underdeveloped and fragmented systems in place. This paper estimates the potential cost of various long-term care service packages that differ in terms of the extent and type of government funding. Second, we investigate the financing sustainability of different coverage scenarios across seventeen countries in the LAC region. Finally, we assess the feasibility of various funding mechanisms and discuss the main benefits and drawbacks considering each country's unique constraints. Our estimates indicate that, while all seventeen LAC countries have the potential to implement a LAC system based on general taxation, a social insurance system is only feasible in a handful set of countries.
Keywords:	long-term care; population aging; Latin America and the Caribbean; social insurance; public finance; tax financing
JEL:	H50 I18 J14 J18 O54
Date:	2025–03–31
URL:	https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:127121

Cannabis Regulations and Crime: A Meta-Analysis

By:	Castillo Cuello, María (Universidad de los Andes); Suescún Salazar, Cecilia (Universidad de los Andes); Weintraub, Michael (Universidad de los Andes); Marín-Llanes, Lucas (Northwestern University)
Abstract:	Does regulating cannabis markets reduce crime? We conduct a systematic review and metaanalysis of causal inference studies addressing this question. Applying strict inclusion criteria to an initial pool of 31 studies, we synthesize estimates from nine papers. We propose a formal framework linking cannabis regulations to crime through reductions in illicit market size, criminal rents, and violence associated with illegal contract enforcement, as well as through increased police resource reallocation and public health interventions. Our meta-analytic estimates show that cannabis regulations—especially for medical use—reduce overall crime, with effects concentrated in violent offenses. We also document heterogeneity by publication status, suggesting potential publication bias. These findings imply that reforms to cannabis regulations may reduce violence and weaken organized crime.
Keywords:	meta-analysis; cannabis; crime; drugs; security
JEL:	H41 H75 K14 K23 K42
Date:	2025–05–02
URL:	https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:col:000089:021369

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