Introduction Despite the significant global economic and social progress achieved in the past 30 years, many countries in the developing world are grappling with financial inclusion challenges (see Appendix A). Technology-enabled strategies can address challenges such as the two billion adults who still transact on a cash basis, the 35 percent of women globally excluded from the formal financial …
Continue reading The United States Has an Opportunity to Lead in Digital Development
In this episode, Dan Runde is joined by Christos Makridis, a Digital Fellow with the Initiative on the Digital Economy at MIT and a Research Assistant Professor at the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. Dan and Christos sit down to discuss Christos’ article, “New Research Shows Religious Liberty Drives Human Flourishing — …
Continue reading Religious Liberty: A Cornerstone of Modern Democratic Governance
In this episode of Building the Future, Dan Runde is joined by Doreen Bogdan-Martin, the Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), to discuss the ITU’s critical role in increasing access to global digital connectivity. Dan and Doreen first provide an overview of the history of the ITU and …
During the past few decades, many countries in Latin America have confronted the impact of systemic corruption on rule of law, business, social cohesion, and citizen security. Amid weakened institutional capacities, endemic corruption persists as a foremost challenge in the countries of the Northern Triangle—Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. Those three countries were ranked 101, …
Continue reading Navigating the United States-Northern Triangle Enhanced Engagement Act
In 2019, the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) was revitalized and repositioned to compete within the rapidly developing arena of export finance. The 2020 Appropriations Act provided Ex-Im with an unprecedented seven-year reauthorization, transforming the institution into a key strategic and economic asset. As the Biden administration looks to establish a new platform for …
Continue reading Moving Forward: An Ex-Im Bank for the Twenty-First Century
Introduction The next four years present a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the new Biden administration to engage with Mexico and with President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) to reinforce the trade relationship between the two countries. The recent entering into force of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), global disruption due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and administration …
Daniel Runde 