Blog BanRep

Over the past decades, Colombian women have experienced profound transformations in their lives in terms of access to higher education, participation in the labor market, and reproductive decisions. However, these advances have not been fully translated into equivalent reorganization within…

Over the past decades, Colombian women have experienced profound transformations in their lives in terms of access to higher education, participation in the labor market, and reproductive decisions. However, these advances have not been fully translated into equivalent reorganization within…

Recent installments of this Blog introduced crucial elements of monetary policy, such as the inflation target and the monetary policy interest rate. These elements are the building blocks of what is known as the target inflation framework - the general structure under which monetary policy…

Recent installments of this Blog introduced crucial elements of monetary policy, such as the inflation target and the…

Although Colombia’s unemployment rate (UR) has declined in recent years, it remains high in the international context. The most recent Labor Market Report from Banco de la República (the Central…

As usual, we devote the last Blog of the year to provide a preliminary assessment of the performance of the Colombian economy over the year about to end, as well as to examine its outlook. In keeping with its commitment to transparency, Banco de la República (the Central Bank of Colombia, BanRep…

As usual, we devote the last Blog of the year to provide a preliminary assessment of the performance of the Colombian economy over the year about to end, as well as to examine its outlook.

Inflation is the generalized and sustained increase in the prices of goods and services. When inflation is high, money loses its value rapidly, which affects all sectors of the economy, especially households, as their purchasing power declines. This means that with the same amount of money, a…

Inflation is the generalized and sustained increase in the prices of goods and services. When inflation is high, money loses its value rapidly, which affects all sectors of the economy, especially households, as their purchasing power declines. This means that with the same amount of money, a…

Since early 2024, interest rates on long-term Colombian government debt bonds, hereafter referred to as government bonds, have been increasing. This means that the government must pay more interest on its debt, so a larger share of its revenues must be allocated to cover such interest payments…

Since early 2024, interest rates on long-term Colombian government debt bonds, hereafter referred to as government bonds, have been increasing. This means that the government must pay more interest on its debt, so a larger share of its revenues must be allocated to cover such interest payments…

Banco de la República’s policy interest rate is currently 9.25%. The policy interest rate serves as the benchmark that the Bank uses to lend to or borrow from commercial banks over very short terms. As with other central banks worldwide, it is the main policy instrument used to achieve the…

Tax authorities in both advanced and emerging economies have resorted to tax wealth as a tool to increase tax revenues, replace other taxes, promote the use of productive capital, and reduce wealth inequality.

The Colombian economy has been increasing its growth pace over the past quarters in response to the strengthening of domestic demand, which expanded by 4.3% annually in the first half of 2025, more than double its growth in 2024 (2.0%). The rise in domestic demand has been driven by the notable…

The Colombian economy has been increasing its growth pace over the past quarters in response to the strengthening of domestic demand, which expanded by 4.3% annually in the first half of 2025, more than double its growth in 2024 (2.0%). The rise in domestic demand has been driven by the notable…

Hard-discount stores are a retail innovation that has brought significant changes to Colombia’s commercial landscape. Operating under well-known brands such as D1 and ARA, these stores are larger than neighborhood shops, but smaller than traditional supermarkets. They offer a limited assortment—…

Hard-discount stores are a retail innovation that has brought significant changes to Colombia’s commercial landscape. Operating under well-known brands such as D1 and ARA, these stores are larger than neighborhood shops, but smaller than traditional supermarkets. They offer a limited assortment—…

A recent paper published in Ensayos sobre Política Económica (ESPE) a journal of >Banco de la República (the Central Bank of Colombia), examines the constraints faced by Colombian smallholder farmers in accessing…

A recent research paper by Carlos Medina and Christian Posso, senior economists at Banco de la República (the Central Bank of Colombia), studies the long-term effects of the Familias en Acción program (FeA, Families in Action), Colombia's conditional cash transfer program. This type of program…

A recent paper published in Ensayos sobre Política Económica (ESPE), a journal of Banco de la República (the Central Bank of Colombia), examines the constraints faced by Colombian smallholder farmers in accessing credit. Among other findings, the paper presents the results of a study done by…