Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Co-operativism and popular participation: new considerations regarding an old subject
As a result of the trend towards the replacement of military régimes by democratic governments, growing interest in the subject of popular participation is to be observed in various countries of the region. One of the aspects of this subject that should be considered is the importance of cooperatives as an organizational model for the production of goods and services which emphasizes the concepts of “popular participation”, “selfmanagement” and “co-management”.
Foreign policy and international financial negotiations: The external debt and the Cartagena Consensus
The background, development and prospects of the concerted effort being made by the Latin American countries as expressed in the Cartagena Consensus and Mexico’s role in this effort are discussed in this article from a foreign policy perspective. It is neither a quantitative technical analysis of the debt problem nor a systematic review of the renegotiations of recent years and those currently in progress, Instead, an attempt is made to explore those elements of international economic performance, trade and finance which led the Latin American countries to meet at Cartagena. It goes on to analyse the basic content of the proposals made at that meeting and at Mar del Plata and Santo Domingo, to discuss how the other parties to the negotiations (governments of developed countries, international banking authorities and multilateral financial bodies) have reacted to these proposals, and, finally, to describe what the outlook for the overall Cartagena process appears to be as of mid-1985.
From austerity measures to structural adjustment
The decade of rhe 1980s already has considerable experience of economic policies to cope with the crisis and its consequences, experience which should serve as a mandatory reference point for the formulation of new action strategies. This is what the authors do as they make a critical assessment of the policies pursued, as an introduction to their own proposal.
Latin America and integration: Options in the crisis
While it is true that some of the causes of the present situation in Latin America are of external origin and that there is little possibility that Latin America will be able to change them, it is no less true that, if the region is to grow it must determine what action its members are ready to take together in order to increase their independence. This article’s main argument is that Latin America must strengthen its arrangements for regional co-operation and integration and make better use of its own resources; ideas, projects and processes have been set in motion for this purpose and must be given real political support.
Reactivation and development: the great commitment of Latin America and the Caribbean
From the viewpoint of economic development, the first half of the 1980s has been lost for most of the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. Unfortunately, if the present economic and social conditions persist, many of them will also have to lose the second half, for the declines registered in the last five years in per capita income are so marked that it will be difficult for the region to recover by 1990 the level which it had already reached in 1980. Consequently, as matters stand it is imperative to promote first of all the recovery and then the sustained growth of the economies. This calls for the application of suitable domestic policies, the existence of a favourable external environment, and active international and regional co-operation.
The agriculture of Latin America: Changes, trends and outlines of strategy
The task of presenting a general picture of Latin American agriculture is complicated by the diversity of national situations, which is reflected in major agricultural differences among countries. However, some important aspects of the structure of agriculture and changes in recent decades are common to almost all the countries; it is thus possible to compose an overall picture which, without oven-generalizing, throws light on the situation and the prospects for the region’s agriculture.
The role of the public sector and transnational corporations in the mining development of Latin America
The world economic crisis, especially the sharp decline in the demand for minerals and metals and the collapse of their real prices (31% in the last five years), together with unprecedented economic stagnation and indebtedness, have eroded the capacity of the governments and public enterprises of the mining countries of Latin America to negotiate with the transnational corporations. These corporations are not only reducing their investments in the region but also trying to evade the effects of the crisis by cutting back the benefits acquired by the mining countries in earlier negotiations. Given the present adverse situation and the danger of an incentives war among governments to attract foreign capital, some thought should be given to the achievements and miscalculations of the public sector and the change which it has undergone in its relations with the transnational corporations in past decades.
The subsidiary role of direct foreign investment in industrialization: The colombian manufacturing sector
In national industrialization processes, direct foreign investment, together with the incorporation of new technologies, enables the modernization of industry to go hand in hand with the promotion of its development.
Introduction: internal debt, external debt and economic transformation
The topics of internal debt, external debt and the process of adjustment and economic transform ation have special features which distinguish them from each other. But they also have important interrelationships, often obscure, which must be studied with care. This issue of the CEPAL Review takes up these three topics, with emphasis on their interrelationships.
Thoughts on industrialization, linkage and growth
This article discusses some issues which ought to be taken into consideration in the preparation of a new industrialization strategy that will make it possible to deal with internal disequilibria and face up to the predictable international situation in the coming years. The first section expounds the concept of linkage, which is regarded as the most significant of the attributes differentiating the productive and social structures of the advanced countries from those of the countries of the Latin American region. In the former, the characteristic feature is organic and interdependent growth of the various parts of the industrial complex, and in the latter, a transplantation of fragments of that structure which leaves in external hands complementary aspects of crucial importance for the functioning of the whole.
Inflation and stabilization policies
Inflation, even at moderate rates, is not innocuos, since it is generally associated with erratic variations in the level and structure of prices. Nevertheless, if it is kept within certain bounds, the economy is able to find ways of adapting itself and activity can develop without undue uncertainty.
In memoriam
As we prepare this edition of CEPAL Review, our editorial team wishes to express its deep sorrow upon the death of Oscar Altimir on 27 September in Santiago. His departure is deeply felt by the ECLAC community, especially by those of us involved in the production of CEPAL Review. We acknowledge the intellectual legacy of Altimir, who directed this publication between 1996 and 2008, succeeding its first two directors: Aníbal Pinto Santa Cruz (1986–1996) and founder Raúl Prebisch (1976–1986). This editorial is intended to convey our heartfelt homage to Altimir’s academic figure and distinguished career as a leading development economist in the region and as one of the most prominent thinkers of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) over the past 40 years.
Main challenges of social development in the Caribbean
The author sees this article as a critical contribution to the work being carried out by the Caribbean Development and Co-operation Committee (CDCC) with a view to formulating a strategy for this subregion (see the summary of this strategy in the section “Some CEPAL publications” at the end of this volume).
The State and transnational banks: Lessons from the Bolivian crisis of external public indebtedness
In order to examine the decisive role played by transnational private banks in the Bolivian economy in recent years, the author considers the concept of external dependence. After analysing in his introduction the usual meanings of this concept as referred to external vulnerability and foreign participation in the economy, he concentrates on what he calls Voluntary dependence’, where such dependence is generated or increased due to the actual economic policy adopted by the State.
Capital goods. Size of markets, sectoral structure and demand prospects in Latin America
During the past thirty years, the manufacture of capital goods has undergone considerable quantitative and qualitative development in Latin America.
The principal schools of thought on the peasant economy
The great problems of the Latin American countries, which are manifested most clearly in the poverty, malnutrition, unemployment and underemployment of a considerable part of the population, have made it necessary to rethink the role of agriculture in the process of development.
The industrialization debate in Latin America
The purpose of this essay is to contribute to the discussion of Latin American industrialization from the standpoint of manufacturing prospects and the long-term options which can be glimpsed within the framework of economic and social development objectives.
The concept of integration
The concept of integration dates back a long time, although it has been used as an economic term only since the Second World War, when it was used to explain one of the objectives of the programmes for the reconstruction of Europe. Since its distant origins, its meaning has changed according to circumstances, which justifies an exploration of its various meanings in order to give them a sense appropriate to the present circumstances.
Class and culture in the changing peasantry
The author’s main purpose in this study is to demonstrate that the peasantry, while also a category of agricultural producers, may be best understood if analysed as a social class.
Urban transport in Latin America. Some considerations on its equity and efficiency
The travelling conditions of all the city-dwellers of Latin America are made more difficult by high levels of congestion, but the lower-income strata are in a particularly negative position, since they are usually limited to the use of buses and thus have to spend a larger proportion of their time and money on travelling than the better-off sectors of the population.