Structural reforms, technological gaps and economic development: a Latin American perspective

This paper explores the impact recent structural reforms have had on macro-to-micro linkages, as well as upon the pattern of production specialization, the entry and exit of firms during the adjustment process, and the sources of technical change in the present more open and de-regulated Latin American scenarios . Having described some of the above one final question emerges quite clearly: is the new market-oriented growth paradigm sustainable in the long run? The story hereby presented suggests that the present pattern of production specialization - strongly biased in favor of in…

Jamaica: Macro-socio-economic assessment of the damage done by flood rains and landslides May 2002

This assessment was prepared for the Government of Jamaica following the significant damages to social and economic infrastructure and productive sectors as a result of a period of sustained and unusual rainfall associated with the convergence of a tropical wave over Jamaica and an area of high pressure to the north of the island resulting in periods of heavy and sustained rainfall over the period May 22 – June 2, 2002. A request for technical assistance was directed to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean, on May 31, by…

The sustainability of development in Latin America and the Caribbean: challenges and opportunities

Summary The original aim of this study was to serve as an input for the Regional Preparatory Conference of Latin America and the Caribbean for the World Summit on Sustainable Development, which took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 23 and 24 October 2001. This document was produced by the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). In preparing the study, national preparatory activities and inputs from subregional meetings were taken int…

Review of Caribbean Economies in 2001

Globalization and development

Introduction The process that has come to be known as globalization .i.e., the progressively greater influence being exerted by worldwide economic, social and cultural processes over national or regional ones— is clearly leaving its mark on the world of today. This is not a new process. Its historical roots run deep. Yet the dramatic changes in terms of space and time being brought about by the communications and information revolution represent a qualitative break with the past. In the light of these changes, the countries of the region have requested the secretariat to focus the del…

Sociodemographic vulnerability in the Caribbean: an examination of the social and demographic impediments to equitable development with participatory citizenship in the Caribbean at the dawn of the twenty-first century

Abstract This study identifies and discusses sociodemographic structures, processes and trends that entail risks for individuals, households and communities in the small island developing States of the Caribbean, on the basis of the analysis of the environmental, geographical, economic and institutional vulnerability of these States conducted by ECLAC in the document Equity, development and citizenship, which was presented at the twenty-eighth session of the Commission. The analysis focuses on three sociodemographic issues. First, fertility, which continues to occur early and at high rates am…

Highlighting the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the Perspectives of Caribbean SIDS

Globalization and development: summary

Assessment of the damage caused by flood rains and landslides in association with hurricane Michelle, october 2001: implications for economic, social and environmental development

Preface This study was prepared for the Government of Jamaica following the significant physical damage and economic losses that the country sustained as a result of flood rains associated with the development of Hurricane Michelle. The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) submitted a request for assistance in undertaking a social, environmental and economic impact assessment to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) on 14 November 2001. ECLAC responded with haste and modified its work plan to accommodate the request. A request for training in the use of th…

Summary of "Report of Ad-Hoc Expert Group Meeting to consider recent Implementation Exercises of the General Data Dissemination System of the IMF

International Rivers and Lakes Nº 36

CONTENTS I.Water pollution: European Commission versus Portugal.II. Bolivia, Potosí: NGO Protests against Legalization of Water Export.III.Canada: A primer on water policy and trade issues.IV. Unprecedented action to protect the Danube River and the Black Sea.V. Mexican desert state and US farmers fight for water.VI. War for water: Suez CEO Launches Appeal.VII. Globalization: NGO Warns of Mass Water Sell-Off.VIII.The case of community water law.IX. German federal and regional ministers of environment against new Czech dams.X. The Commission on Environment of the European parliament …

Trade, environment and development: implications for Caribbean countries

Introduction Trade and development issues have been the focus of economists, policy makers and international organizations for decades. However, environmental concerns have only come to the fore within the last couple of decades largely as a result of the work of scientists on, for example, climate change and loss in biodiversity as well as the lobbying activities of environmental groups, such as Greenpeace. The linking of environment to trade only gained international prominence since the negotiations for the Canada-United States Free Trade Area in the 1980s. However, although enviro…

Debt for nature: a swap whose time has gone?

Abstract This paper purports to review the performance of the Debt for Nature Swap (DNS) Programs in light of their dual objectives of lowering deforestation rates as well as the cost of debt servicing. It evaluates the performance of private and Public DNS and inquires whether such swaps have made any significant dent on the debt and deforestation problems besetting many developing countries. It also assesses the prospects for such swaps in the future. We argue that since the prospects for DNS are limited, a more conducive solution for the deforestation problem in many developing countries ma…

Sustainable development: Latin American and Caribbean perspectives

This publication is a result of a Regional Consultative Meeting on Sustainable Development in Latin America and the Caribbean held at the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in Santiago, Chile, 19-21 January 2000. The partners in the organization of this meeting were ECLAC, the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), the Organization of American States (OAS), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB). Fifty-four participants, representing governments from the region at the senior policy-m…

Caribbean Leaders Address the Potential Development Crisis which HIV/AIDS May Pose to the Caribbean

Water management at the river basin level: challenges in Latin America

Summary Water management is akin to conflict management among human beings and between human beings and their environment. Water and river basin management systems are created to avoid, prevent or resolve such conflicts. Humankind needs to learn to live with these conflicts and deal with them adequately. All the more so since the relative scarcity of water will become ever more pressing as time goes on, as a result of economic growth, social demands and climate change. Competition between users will become ever more intense and ruthless, so that legislation and institutions to manage the syst…

A territorial perspective: towards the consolidation of human settlements in Latin America and the Caribbean

Latin American and Caribbean Regional Preparatory Conference for the special session of the General Assembly for an overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the Habitat Agenda - Santiago, Chile, 25-27 October, 2000 Introduction The Second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) was held in Istanbul, Turkey, from 3 to 14 June 1996. In Latin America and the Caribbean, this conference gave rise to a great deal of thought-provoking analysis of the enormous challenges that will be faced during this millennium in the field of land use and urban and housing developme…

The status of biodiversity and bioprospecting efforts in the Caribbean subregion

Introduction Biodiversity, as the name implies, is the term used to describe the differences that exist between and among the various species of organisms on the planet earth. Biodiversity can be measured on a worldwide basis, on a regional basis, on a national basis, as well as on a zonal basis. The interactions of these various species provide the basis for sustaining life, human life in particular. On that basis then, it is of utmost importance that the biodiversity of any area be preserved and this can only be done by a proper understanding of the organisms, their relative positions and in…

International Rivers and Lakes Nº 35

CONTENTS I.Notes on NAFTA’s Environmental Implications II. US-Mexican transboundary water issues: public and private sector entities participate in round tableIII.Colloquium on Regulatory Expropriations in International LawIV. Great Lakes: Donors pledge US $140 million for Nile basin projects, 29 June 2001V. Toronto newspaper concerned about U.S. interest in Canadian water VI. Debate on piping Canadian water to the American SouthwestVII. Mexican water debt coming due VIII.India: Water release into Pakistan rivers IX. UK Water Industry Says: 'Climate Change Threat Urgent' X.…

Environmental value, valuation methods, and natural disaster damage assessment

It is largely agreed that successful development depends on the rational use of natural capital (World Bank, 1998). In recent years, advances have been made to measuring progress toward 'sustainable development' (Kunte et al., 1998), and in applying valuation techniques to the analysis of the environmental impacts of investment projects and public policies, both in developed and developing countries (Barbier, 1998). Natural capital is not exclusively endangered by human actions (or inactions). Environmental (quantity or quality) changes may also be induced by natural hazards which, b…