The Latin American Competitiveness Report 2001-2002

by World Economic Forum; Vial, Joaquín; Cornelius, Peter K.

• ISBN13: 9780195152562
• ISBN10: 0195152565
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-02-21
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Throughout the last decade, Latin America has made tremendous progress in undertaking significant structural reforms. In many countires, state-owned enterprises have been privatized, basic infrastructure has been built, and capital markets have been established. In more advanced countries in the region, foreign investment flows have soared and trade performance has dramatically improved. These reforms are even more remarkeable when placed in the context of the numerous upheavals, both economic and financial, that have affected the region in recent years. However, Latin America is also a region that has failed to deliver the kind of economic performance that most observers expected, given its wealth of natural resources, proximity to North America and Europe, and relative level of development. Despite the region's indisputable economic and social accomplishments, gains have varied widely among these countries. While some have successfully implemented macroeconomic, political, and institutional reforms, many countries have yet to create the necessary conditions for fostering economic growth and competitiveness. The Latin American Competitiveness Report 2001-2002 highlights the prospects for growth in the region, and, more importantly, reveals the obstacles to competitiveness. Through in-depth analysis of regional trends and detailed country profiles, the Report assesses the comparative strengths and weaknesses of the leading economies in Latin America. It also contains essays on a variety of issues relevant to competitiveness along with an assessment of the impact of the events of September 11th on the longer-term prospects of the region. The Latin American Competitiveness Report 2001-2002 is an invaluable tool for policymakers, business strategists, and other important stakeholders as well as essential reading for all with an interest in the region.

Table of Contents

Preface	v
List of authors	vi
Country rankings	1	(8)
Essays	9	(160)
Can Latin America compete?	10	(20)
Jeffrey D. Sachs
Joaquin Vial
Genuine savings and long-run competitiveness in Latin America	30	(14)
Jeffrey R. Vincent
Logistics and markets: Overcoming the challenges of a difficult geography	44	(18)
Jose Luis Bonifaz
Fernando Gonzalez-Vigil
Roberto Urrunaga
International competitiveness and education in Latin America and the Caribbean countries	62	(18)
Jose Pablo Arellano
Building the basis for future competitiveness: Latin America and the ICT revolution	80	(18)
Elisa Korentayer
Financial development and credit crunches: Latin America and the world	98	(24)
Matias Braun
Ricardo Hausmann
Opacity, foreign direct investment, and economic growth	122	(12)
Peter K. Cornelius
Thomas Hall
Joel A. Kurtzman
Basis for future competitiveness in Latin America and the Caribbean: Trade agreements and FDI attraction	134	(18)
Marcelo de Paiva Abreu
Building institutions for a more competitive region	152	(12)
Joaquin Vial
Latin American prospects in the new scenario for the world economy	164	(5)
John W. McArthur
Jeffrey D. Sachs
Joaquin Vial
Country profiles	169	(42)
Argentina	170	(2)
Bolivia	172	(2)
Brazil	174	(2)
Chile	176	(2)
Colombia	178	(2)
Costa Rica	180	(2)
Ecuador	182	(2)
El Salvador	184	(2)
Guatemala	186	(2)
Dominican Republic	188	(2)
Honduras	190	(2)
Jamaica	192	(2)
Mexico	194	(2)
Nicaragua	196	(2)
Panama	198	(2)
Paraguay	200	(2)
Peru	202	(2)
Trinidad and Tobago	204	(2)
Uruguay	206	(2)
Venezuela	208	(3)
Acknowledgments	211