Regarding Maps and Theories
By Mauricio García Villegas |
A good social theory should not be overly complex nor too simple.
Read more Land Restitution in 2015: On Trial by Fire
By Aura Bolívar Jaime |
The evaluation of land restitution policies ought to look beyond the numbers and identify the challenges that it faces.
Read more Ministry of Mines: Accepted but Not Obeyed
By César Rodríguez-Garavito (Retired in 2019) |
One of the Santos administration's first good moves was to undo the merging of unrelated ministries during Uribe's presidency, like the union of the Ministry of Environment and Housing. However, a recent law confirms that the Ministry of Environment is once again being absorbed, this time by the Ministry of Mines.
Read more Blog to the Supporters of “Merit Pays”
By Ana Margarita González Vásquez, Nicolás Torres Echeverry |
The programs "Merit Pays" (Spanish "Ser Pilo Paga") that the national government recently inaugurated has been met with differing reactions. The debate deals with two positions: on one hand, there are those that highlight its benefits: the program promotes the social mobility of a talented group of young people while it also installs greater diversity and inclusion in private universities. On the other hand, there are those who, like us, are not so convinced and argue that the program directs public funds to the private sector instead of strengthening public tertiary education and that it restricts access to university education to an exceptional minority of high school graduates, excluding the majority.
Stained with the Same Grease
By Carlos Andrés Baquero Díaz |
Palm oil production creates two main problems: one environmental and one social.
Read more Peace and Referendum
By Rodrigo Uprimny Yepes |
It could be that the Public Prosecutor is correct in saying that a Peace Agreement with the FARC does not legally require a referendum. However, it is necessary considering democratic political legitimacy.
Read more The Meritorious Students’ Scholarships
By Mauricio García Villegas |
Last year I wrote a column in which I told Victor's story, a young man from Aguadas (Caldas) whom I know since he was a little boy.
Read more Merit Pays
By César Rodríguez-Garavito (Retired in 2019) |
The start of the government programs "Merit Pays" (Spanish "Ser Pilo Paga") which gives university scholarships to the very best low-income students reminded me of the story of a young Gabriel García Márquez when he arrived from the Caribbean coast to Bogotá.
Read more Wire-Tapping to Be Evaluated by the OECD?
By Vivian Newman Pont |
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) evaluators have arrived to analyze if Colombia has good practices and can join the rich countries' club.
Read more 