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RED 2026 - Chapter 8: Access to quality services for comprehensive rural development

Access to quality infrastructure and basic services is a fundamental pillar of household well-being and productive development. However, low population density and the geographic dispersion of rural areas make it difficult to achieve economies of scale and drive up provision costs, a phenomenon exacerbated by structural transformation and demographic transition. In turn, services form an interconnected system: limitations in one can affect access to and the quality of others, restricting effective use and diluting social benefits, which reduces incentives for private investment and gives the government a central role in their expansion and regulation. This chapter examines access to and the quality of infrastructure and services with a direct impact on rural well-being and productivity in Latin America and the Caribbean—drinking water, sanitation, and electricity; physical and digital connectivity; education; health; and financial services. It shows that, although coverage gaps have narrowed in several areas, significant differences in quality persist. Finally, the chapter discusses a set of policies aimed at improving access to quality services in rural areas.

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Desarrollo rural | Servicios públicos | Sector productivo | Infraestructura | Georreferenciación | Productividad | Agua y saneamiento | Internet y banda ancha | Energía | Salud | Finanzas | Educación | Políticas públicas

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América Latina y el Caribe

URI

https://scioteca.caf.com/handle/123456789/2650

Date

2026-04-13

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4.01 Reporte de Economía y Desarrollo (RED)

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RED2026. Chapter 8.pdf (3.57 MB)

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