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Database of Public Investment Expenditures in Latin America (BDD-GIPAL): 2000-2016

By Fiscal Management Division (VPS/IFD/FMM)

Reliable and comparable data on public investment spending are crucial for understanding how governments allocate resources to infrastructure and development. However, few centralized information systems exist to track the evolution and composition of infrastructure expenditure by country across Latin America.

The Database of Public Investment Expenditure in Latin America (BDD-GIPAL) fills this gap. Covering 16 countries from 2000 to 2016, it provides detailed cross-classifications of expenditures — economic, institutional, and functional — offering a comprehensive view of Latin America infrastructure investment trends.

The BDD-GIPAL database helps answer three key questions:
1. How much is invested?
2. Who invests?
3. In what sectors is it invested?

Key insights from the data include:
- Public investment in the region increased from 2.8% to 3.9% of GDP between 2002–2006 and 2012–2016, though this growth was driven mainly by five countries.
- Several countries have transferred more responsibility for investment to subnational governments, with four nations now accounting for over 50% of total public investment expenditure at the local level.
- Nearly half of all investment spending in the region is directed toward transportation infrastructure, housing, and community services — critical areas for sustainable growth and regional connectivity.

In today’s fiscal-constraint environment, the BDD-GIPAL dataset provides an invaluable resource for policymakers, researchers, and civil society. It supports better decision-making on the prioritization, quality, and efficiency of public investment across Latin America infrastructure systems.

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Metadata & use

Identifier https://doi.org/10.60966/vs8m-cf73
License Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial–NoDerivs 3.0 IGO
Related Knowledge Product
Citation

Armendáriz, Edna, et al. (2019). Database of Public Investment Expenditures in Latin America (BDD-GIPAL): 2000-2016. IDB Open Data. https://doi.org/10.60966/vs8m-cf73
Published date 2019-10-01
Modified date 2026-07-15
Tags/Keywords BDD-GIPAL · Public Investment · Public Spending
Language
  1. Spanish
Temporal coverage 2000-2016
Country
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras
Mexico
Nicaragua
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Uruguay
Region Latin America and the Caribbean
Publisher
Inter-American Development Bank
Author
Armendáriz, Edna
Carrasco, Haydeeliz
Galindo, Germán
Rodrigues Gomes, Camila
Data collection type Administrative Data
Data structure Semistructured Data
Data notes

What countries are included in the BDD-GIPAL dataset?

The dataset consists of 16 Latin American countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay.

What indicators are available for each country?

Each country sheet includes annual data on public investment as a percentage of GDP, disaggregated by sector (e.g., transportation, education, health), level of government (central or subnational), and institutional category.

What are the main sectors of public investment?

The BDD-GIPAL dataset classifies investment by function, with major spending areas including:
- Transportation infrastructure
- Housing and community services
- Education and health
- Energy and environmental protection
This breakdown enables users to explore infrastructure expenditure by country across various sectors.

What is the “INVERSIÓN consolid_final” sheet?

This sheet consolidates all country-level data to provide a regional view of investment in Latin American infrastructure. It includes total and average public investment values across the 16 participating countries.

What does the “promedio” sheet represent?

The “promedio” sheet provides regional averages for the leading indicators, allowing quick comparison of average investment trends in infrastructure expenditure by country over time.

How are subnational investments represented?

For several countries, the data shows a significant share of investment by subnational governments. In some cases, local governments account for more than 50% of total public investment — highlighting decentralization trends in Latin American infrastructure management.

What years does the dataset cover?

The BDD-GIPAL data spans from 2000 to 2016, enabling long-term trend analysis of public infrastructure expenditure by country.

Can users compare investment priorities across sectors and countries?

Yes. The dataset enables comparative analysis of Latin American infrastructure spending patterns — for example, the share of investment allocated to transport versus education or health — and how those allocations have changed over time.

How can researchers use the “BASE Stata” sheet?

The “BASE Stata” sheet provides the data in a structured format ready for econometric analysis. It allows users to quickly import data on infrastructure expenditure by country into Stata or similar statistical software.

How can this data inform public policy?

By comparing infrastructure expenditure by country, policymakers can identify underinvested sectors, assess the effects of fiscal decentralization, and design evidence-based strategies to improve investment efficiency and regional equity.

Where can I access documentation and methodology?

Documentation explaining classifications, definitions, and data sources is included in the dataset’s “PORTADA” (cover) sheet. For methodological context and related research, see IDB technical notes on public investment and fiscal data available at data.iadb.org and related infrastructure studies such as Financial Solutions for the Development of National Infrastructure Platforms.

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