Regional Problems And Policies In Latin America

This contributed volume is the first book in English to offer a current and critical vision of regional problems and policies in the countries of Latin America. The book is in three main parts: a general overview of regional processes and trends in Latin America as a whole; country-level coverage of seven individual countries; and comparative analyses of common major problems such as migration, education, labor, poverty, decentralization, exports and foreign direct investments. Written by renowned academics and experts from the region, the book seeks to provide a better understanding of regional challenges and trends, regional disparities that exist in many Latin American countries and the increasing importance of metropolitan areas.

In spite of the defeat of hyperinflation and improvements in macroeconomic management, the 1990s Washington Consensus-based reforms failed to reverse long-existing declines in productivity in Latin America. They also failed to create adequate local credit markets necessary for higher and more stable growth. By neglecting key matters of distribution, social welfare and investment in the region's human resources, the reforms have limited the prospects for long-term growth and left millions of Latin Americans feeling as if they have little stake in democratic governance and market economics. Drawing upon insights from top political and economic analysts from Latin America and the United States, Latin America after the Washington Consensus: Re-assessing Policies and Priorities discusses the need to reduce current levels of inequality and unemployment, invest in education to increase productivity and competitiveness, and strengthen the capacity of the state to withstand changes in the global economy. Reaching higher rates of growth would solve many of the region's problems, but most Latin American countries have yet to generate the institutional and social conditions that would sustain such growth and endow local economies with more resilience. Warning against one-size-fits-all solutions, Latin America after the Washington Consensus insists that each Latin American state must respond to these challenges with pragmatic strategies based on its own strengths and weaknesses.

Recent U.S. military involvement in Central America has sparked heated debate over U.S. policy in the region. To informed observers of U.S.-Latin American relations, however, Washington's actions reflect U.S. regional and global objectives that have evolved in the course of 150 years of U.S. involvement in Latin America. This text provides students

"Brief, insightful essays and valuable commentary by conference participants at the Carter Center in Sept. 1993 (including former President Jimmy Carter and Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide). Emphasis on legitimacy of collective international actions for peace, democracy, and human rights and accompanying ambivalence of many Latin Americans in terms of State sovereignty"--Handbook of Latin American Studies, v. 57

Many European, Latin American and Asian countries have experience with regional policies aiming to reduce regional disparities in GDP per capita and/or to develop problem regions helping to recover from its GDP decrease. Spain represents, without any doubt, a very rich and interesting case-study regarding regional problems and regional development policies. The aim of this book is not only to analyze the regional policies practiced, their objectives, instruments and effects, but to provide an in-depth analysis on the impact of investments in infrastructure, human capital and other factors, as well as the advances accomplished in terms of productivity, convergence and regional competitiveness. The book particularly wants to impart knowledge, which can be useful for other countries’ policy makers, as well as for academics, researchers and consultants. The contributions selected have been written by prestigious Spanish academics, most of them also having practical experience in the field.