The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has awarded the 2025 Young Economist Award to three outstanding researchers for their impactful studies on economic issues in Latin America and the Caribbean, showcasing academic excellence and policy relevance in economic development.

WASHINGTON - The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has announced the recipients of the 2025 IDB Young Economist Award, an esteemed honor acknowledging exceptional research by emerging PhD graduates in economics focusing on Latin America and the Caribbean. 

Pascuel Plotkin from Argentina secured the first prize for his paper, "Dinner at Your Door: How Delivery Platforms Affect Workers and Firms," which explores the effects of online delivery platforms on restaurants and workers in Brazil, assessing both challenges and benefits particularly in informal economies. 

The second prize was awarded to Daniel Jaramillo Calderón from Ecuador for his research investigating the impact of mass amnesty on crime rates influenced by former convicts in their neighborhoods. 

Renata Motta Café from Brazil claimed the third prize with her analysis on how access to government-backed loans influences municipal public spending in her country. 

Also recognized were Francisco Eslava Sáenz from Colombia, Karla Hernández from Costa Rica, Isaac Martínez Centeno from Chile, Laura Pérez Cervera from Spain, and Víctor Zuluaga from Colombia, who received honorable mentions for their significant contributions. 

“Recognizing the talents of young economists is critical” stated Laura Alfaro Maykall, the IDB's Chief Economist. “This award underlines the potential of economic research in addressing pressing challenges within the region.” 

The winners will be honored at the 2nd IDB Research Conference, scheduled for September 15-16 at IDB’s Washington, DC headquarters, which will also tackle how digital technologies are transforming economic development.

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Image Credits: iadb.org