The Decline of Latin American Economies

by Edwards, Sebastian

• ISBN13: 9780226185002
• ISBN10: 0226185001
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2007-08-15
• Publisher: Univ of Chicago Pr

Summary

Latin America's economic performance is mediocre at best, despite abundant natural resources and flourishing neighbors to the north. The perplexing question of how some of the wealthiest nations in the world in the nineteenth century are now the most crisis-prone has long puzzled economists and historians.The Decline of Latin American Economiesexamines the reality behind the struggling economies of Argentina, Chile, and Mexico. A distinguished panel of experts argues here that slow growth, rampant protectionism, and rising inflation plagued Latin America for years, where corrupt institutions and political unrest undermined the financial outlook of already besieged economies. Tracing Latin America's growth and decline through two centuries, this volume illustrates how a once-prosperous continent now lags behind. Of interest to scholars and policymakers alike, it offers new insight into the relationship between political systems and economic development.

Author Biography

Sebastian Edwards is the Henry Ford II Professor of International Business Economics at the Anderson Graduate School of Management at UCLA. He is the author and editor of several books, including Preventing Currency Crises and Capital Flows and the Emerging Economies, both published by the University of Chicago Press.
Gerardo Esquivel is professor of economics at El Colegio de México.

Graciela Márquez is professor of history at El Colegio de México.

 

 

 

Table of Contents

Introduction

Economic Growth, Taxation, and Institutions

When Did Latin America Fall Behind

Before the Golden Age: Economic Growth in Mexico and Portugal, 1910-1950

Inequality and the Evolution of Institutions of Taxation: Evidence from the Economic History of the Americas

Financial Crises, Lending, and Inflation

Financial Crises, 1880-1913: The Role of Foreign Currency Debt

The True Measure of Country Risk: A Primer on Interrelations between Solvency and the Polity Structure of Emerging Markets, Argentina 1886-1892

Related Lending: Manifest Looting or Good Governance? Lessons from the Economic History of Mexico

Sudden Stops and Currency Drops: A Historical Look

Establishing Credibility: The Role of Foreign Advisors in Chile's 1955-1958 Stablization Program

Protectionism and Economic Performance

Some Economic Effects of Closing the Economy: The Mexican Experience in the Mid-Twentieth Century

The Political Economy of Protectionism: The Mexican Textile Industry, 1900-1950

Contributors

Author Index

Subject Index

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