Latin American and Caribbean development in the 1980s and the outlook for the future

Now that we are at the threshold of a new decade, what can be said about the one that is ending with regard to the development process in Latin America and the Caribbean? So much emphasis has been placed on the depth and duration of the economic crisis of recent years that little new can be added, at least in terms of the description of its origin, scope and consequences. Still, the 10-year time span offers us an extraordinarily rich perspective for taking brief stock and making some observations on future perspectives, taking into account the legacy which this decade leaves us, a decade described by some as “lost” as far as development is concerned.