Ongoing Studies

Demographic Transition and Its Effects on Economic Growth and Productivity in Chile

The study aims to conduct an in-depth analysis of the demographic transition Chile is experiencing—characterized by low fertility, increased longevity, and rapid population aging—identifying its causes and effects on economic growth and productivity, and formulating public policy recommendations to address the challenges this process presents.
In 2024, the Total Fertility Rate fell to 1.03 children per woman, placing the country among the world’s lowest-birth-rate countries. This combination of fewer births and greater longevity reduces the working-age population and increases old-age dependency, with direct effects on labor supply, savings, investment, and potential economic growth.

Informality and Productivity

This study aims to identify, analyze, and characterize informality in its labor dimension (informal workers) and in the various economic units where it manifests (informal enterprises), examining the respective effects of informality on both individuals’ lives and the economy’s performance. This analysis will also include a classification of different types of informal enterprises according to their level of productivity.

The study will highlight the dynamics of informality in the Chilean labor market, explore its evolution and causes, and propose measures to mitigate its negative impacts and strengthen formalization processes. This analysis will build on existing evidence, both quantitative and qualitative, as well as an updated assessment of the challenges faced by Chile’s labor and productive systems.

The ultimate goal is to support the design of more effective public policies that aim to reduce informality and improve the quality of employment and labor conditions in the country.

Ex Post Evaluation Analysis in Chile and Methodological Proposal

The objective of this study is to contribute to the development of a comprehensive, periodic, articulated, and systemic regulatory evaluation strategy that the State can adopt in a sustained manner. It will focus on ex post evaluation (the analysis of the actual effects of a regulation once implemented) as a key dimension of this strategy.

Based on a review of national and international experiences, the study will identify the main challenges in the Chilean context and propose a methodological guide to standardize the conduct of ex post evaluations. To this end, it will define a technical framework—based on shared criteria, compatible stages, and tools—that will help standardize ex post evaluation and improve the linkage between existing evaluation instruments.

Medium-Term Evaluation Agenda

As part of its mandate, the National Commission for Evaluation and Productivity (CNEP) is working on the document “Medium-Term Evaluation Agenda.” This agenda will systematize the tools currently used in Chile to evaluate public policies, offering a diagnosis and recommendations to strengthen and promote evaluation practices.

Environmental Regulatory Burden on Operational Projects

This study examines the significant role of environmental regulations in ensuring compliance and addressing legal risks faced by operational projects. The goal is to identify the regulatory burden these projects face, assess their compliance with existing standards, and analyze the quality of the current regulatory framework.

Regulatory Framework for Socio-Environmental Conflicts in Investment Projects

This study seeks to identify and characterize the types of socio-environmental conflicts that arise around investment projects in Chile and analyze the regulatory framework governing their management. Based on this analysis, it will propose improvements to existing mechanisms for addressing these conflicts.

Monitoring Measures to Shorten Approval Times for Mining Projects

This study aims to monitor progress in implementing measures designed to reduce approval times for mining projects by one-third, a commitment made following the passage of the Royalty Law. Using the results of the CNEP’s 2024 report as a baseline, the study will track the 11 key categories in the mining industry. Achieving the target would mean reducing the approval time for metallic mining projects from seven years to five.

Impact of Incentives to Prevent Food Waste

In collaboration with the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), this study evaluates the effectiveness of the 2021 Income Tax Law amendment (Law No. 21.210, published on February 24, 2020), which introduced fiscal incentives to reduce food waste. The study will focus on key regulatory aspects of the law aimed at promoting sustainable practices in food production and distribution, assessing its impact on reducing waste and its success in creating effective fiscal incentives

Effects of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on Productivity and the Labor Market in Chile

This study will examine the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on productivity and the labor market in Chile. It will analyze how AI is transforming industries, displacing jobs through automation, creating new opportunities, and reshaping market structures. Additionally, the study will explore technological, regulatory, and organizational barriers to AI adoption, such as unequal internet access, data availability, and privacy protection.

Based on this analysis, the study will identify areas where AI can improve efficiency and propose public policy recommendations to promote inclusive and sustainable technological growth.