Blog BanRep

In its most recent financial report for 2023 (only available in Spanish), Banco de la República (the Central Bank of Colombia or Banrep) reported historical profits…

High-altitude climbers know very well that the descent from the top can be as dangerous as the ascent, so they advance cautiously in this second stage of the journey to ensure a healthy return home. Something similar could be said of monetary policy. Risks do not disappear in the decline period…

Economic observers who monitor monetary policy often compare the timing of interest rate increase or decrease cycle decisions across countries to determine which countries were ahead and which were behind in their decisions. This might be correct if the countries had identical economic…

Chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of mortality in the world. These diseases are mainly associated with older age groups and, therefore, their financial burden is expected to increase progressively due to the aging of the population and risk factors derived from…

Chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of mortality in the world. These diseases are mainly associated with older age groups and, therefore, their financial burden is expected to increase progressively due to the aging of the population and risk factors derived from…

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Colombia has seen a significant increase in the use of electronic payment channels. This blog presents detailed information on the evolution of these payment channels and their characteristics, identifying the main gaps observed in the country.

A health system reform is currently being discussed which proposes that payment to Healthcare Service Providers (IPS in Spanish) be made directly by a public entity, the ​​Administrator of Resources of the General System of Social Security in Health (ADRES in Spanish), based on fee schedules per…

A health system reform is currently being discussed which proposes that payment to Healthcare Service Providers (IPS in Spanish) be made directly by a public entity, the ​​Administrator of Resources of the General System of Social Security in Health (ADRES in Spanish), based on fee schedules per…

Retail payment instruments play a crucial role in economic and financial stability and in the functioning of trade. These include cash, debit and credit cards, checks, and wire transfers.

The Colombian peso has exhibited a volatile behavior and a significant depreciation in recent months. In view of this trend, the question arises as to whether an intervention by Banco de la República (the Central Bank of Colombia) in the foreign exchange market to stabilize the currency would be…

There is a broad consensus in the scientific community regarding the risks associated with climate change on the economic activity of most countries in the world. Such risks may be physical or transitional. Physical risks are related to the gradual increase in temperatures around the globe and…

Since the second half of 2021, food prices in Colombia grew on average 12 percentage points more than in the other OECD countries and seven percentage points more than in the rest of Latin America.

In September last year, a blog was published announcing the quarterly publication of the National Accounts by Institutional Sector (CNSI in Spanish), which include the national accounts by…

When citizens of a developing country decide to emigrate in search of a better future, their lives and those of their families are not the only ones affected. This decision can also have an impact on different aspects of the country of origin  , such as income, inequality, the quality of…

In March 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted educational activities usually carried out in person. To mitigate the cost of closing educational institutions, governments and school and university administrators chose to maintain training processes through virtual tools and other means. However…

On May 18 and 19, in conjunction with the International Economic Association (IEA), the Bank of Spain, and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Banco de la República held a virtual seminar entitled Pathways to Gender Equality in Central Banks, 1featuring academic…

In recent years, the practice of considering environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) factors in investment decision-making has become more widespread. While the term ESG is used interchangeably with sustainable or responsible investing, it denotes an investment approach in which…

In recent years, the practice of considering environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) factors in investment decision-making has become more widespread. While the term ESG is used interchangeably with sustainable or responsible investing, it denotes an investment approach in which…

Although the existence of wage gaps that favor men over women is well known and is explained by multiple factors, there is little discussion of what happens in the opposite case when the women in the households earn more money than the men. In particular, international studies suggest that…