Dataset Learning Better: Public Policy for Skills Development: 1990-2016

By Department of Research and Chief Economist (VPS/RES/RES)

Despite governments’ best efforts, many people in Latin America and the Caribbean still lack the skills they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world. This publication examines skills gaps and policy effectiveness in Latin America, identifying the strategies that help people learn more effectively and achieve their full potential throughout their lifetimes.

Drawing on data from the Skills Bank, the analysis evaluates how education and training systems develop both socio-emotional and cognitive skills indicators, and how these capabilities influence employment, productivity, and inclusion.

By understanding which policies work (and which don’t) governments can design more effective approaches to close skills gaps, improve learning outcomes, and strengthen the region’s competitiveness.

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Metadata & use

Identifier https://doi.org/10.60966/nuz96s00
License Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial–NoDerivs 3.0 IGO
Related Knowledge Product
Citation

Messina, Julián, et al. (2017). Dataset Learning Better: Public Policy for Skills Development: 1990-2016. IDB Open Data. https://doi.org/10.60966/nuz96s00

Published date 2017-11-01
Modified date 2026-08-26
Tags/Keywords Cognitive Development · Labor Market · Learning Gap · Learning Strategy · Lifelong Learning · Public Policy · Socio-Emotional Skill
Language
  1. English
Temporal coverage 1990-2016
Country
Argentina
Barbados
Belize
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Guatemala
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Jamaica
Mexico
Nicaragua
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Trinidad & Tobago
Uruguay
Venezuela
Region Latin America and the Caribbean
Publisher
Inter-American Development Bank
Author
Messina, Julián
Busso, Matías
Cristia, Julian P.
Hincapie, Diana
Ripani, Laura
Data collection type Administrative Data
Statistical type Cross-sectional Data
Data structure Structured Data
Data notes

What is the purpose of the Learning Better dataset?

The dataset supports research on skills gaps and policy effectiveness in Latin America, providing harmonized data to help policymakers and educators design evidence-based interventions that improve learning outcomes across the region.

What does the dataset include?

It contains a range of socio-emotional and cognitive skill indicators, as well as measures of educational quality, labor outcomes, and lifelong learning. The data highlight how individuals acquire, retain, and apply skills throughout their lives.

What countries are covered in this dataset?

The dataset includes data from multiple Latin American and Caribbean countries, enabling regional comparisons of educational performance, workforce readiness, and social inclusion outcomes.

How can this dataset help address skills gaps in Latin America?

By identifying mismatches between the skills people have and the skills employers need, the data support analysis of skills gaps and policy effectiveness. Governments can utilize the findings more effectively to target education, training, and employment programs.

What are socio-emotional and cognitive skills indicators?

These indicators assess how individuals use emotional regulation, problem-solving, and reasoning to succeed in education and the workplace. Together, they form a comprehensive view of human capital that extends beyond traditional academic achievement.

What is the Skills Bank?

The Skills Bank is an IDB initiative that compiles datasets such as this one to strengthen understanding of skills development in Latin America and the Caribbean. It combines quantitative and qualitative indicators to inform more effective policy design.

Who developed this dataset?

The dataset was created by the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) as part of its ongoing efforts to improve data transparency and policy evaluation in education and human capital development.

How can researchers use this dataset?

Researchers can analyze patterns of skill formation, identify key predictors of success, and evaluate the long-term impacts of education policy. The data can also be used to assess the effectiveness of government programs and initiatives supported by the Skills Bank.

What time period does the data cover?

The dataset comprises multiple waves of data collection, covering education and labor market indicators across different years. It provides a longitudinal perspective on how skill gaps and policy effectiveness evolve in Latin America.

Where can I access the related publication?

For full context and analysis, see the related IDB publication Learning Better: Public Policy for Skills Development.

Dataset files

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