The Americas Desk of the Development Centre undertakes high-quality analysis and organises policy dialogue on the trends, challenges and opportunities for development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Desk produces comparative studies on development issues -- fiscal policy, migration and remittances, macroeconomics, the middle class, economic reform -- which feed debate and the exchange of experiences between the OECD, its member countries and the emerging economies of Latin America.

Since 2007, the Desk has published the annual Latin American Economic Outlook (LEO). LEO stimulates informed debate on how to advance the region’s economic development and the well-being of its citizens through better public policies. In addition to this flagship publication and its associated policy-dialogue events, the Desk also works on a host of public-policy issues of importance to Latin America.

The Desk works closely with other OECD directorates, collaborates with the leading international organisations active in Latin America and has strong links with relevant stakeholders in government, academia, the private sector and the non-profit community.

The Americas Desk -- like the Development Centre more generally -- provides a setting for mutual learning and constructive dialogue among OECD economies and those from the region, seeking creative policy solutions to emerging development challenges. The Desk brings OECD expertise and best practices closer to Latin American and Caribbean countries, while at the same time raising the profile of Latin American affairs within the OECD.