this presentation was prepared for an idb seminar titled "brainstorming session: the political economy of productivity: actors, arenas, and policymaking," held on february 6th, 2009. this research project lies at the intersection of two agendas: 1) 2010 development in the americas report (dia, ex-ipes) on "productivity in latin america"; 2) step in political economy agenda at the research department idb political institutions and policymaking in latin america.