Income distribution and poverty through crisis and adjustment

This article analyses the costs in terms of income distribution of the crisis and adjustments of the 1980s, as well as the effects of the subsequent recovery and resumption of sustained growth patterns. This analysis is based on comparable pairs of estimates of income distribution and poverty prepared by ECLAC for the ten largest and predominantly urban countries of the region. The method of analysis consists, on the one hand, of comparing the changes in distribution and in the macroeconomic and labour market variables during similar macroeconomic phases in the course of the adjustment process…

Growth, competitiveness and employment in Peru, 1990-2003

The growth of high-quality employment needed to reduce the share of informal occupation and open unemployment in Peru will require an acceleration and diversification of private investment in the tradable sector. One of the main constraints faced is the uncompetitiveness of the non-extractive tradable sector. In 1990-2003, competitiveness improved in this sector essentially as a result of lower labour costs, a socially unjust and economically ineffective route to follow. To raise competitiveness, it is essential for the macroeconomic regime to include a competitive real exchange rate (to which…

Socioeconomic structure and colective behaviour

This article provides an overview of a number of changes that have taken place in the region's economy, together with their effects in terms of its social stratification, and analyses the different social sectors' options for political action. A series of economic changes have altered both the traditional heterogeneity of the Latin American economy and the relative weight of its various sectors; this is reflected, for example, 9n the heightened importance of agribusiness and the reciprocal penetration of the services and production sectors. Today a generic distinction between i…

Economic policy, institutions and productive development in Latin America

ECLAC has submitted an overall assessment of the economic reforms implemented during the past 15 years to the Governments of the region and, based on that assessment, a proposal for strengthening the development process. The central message that emerges from this analysis is that the region needs to work towards forming closer linkages among its macroeconomy, microeconomy and institutional structure by reinforcing the complementarities between macroeconomic and microeconomic sources of competitiveness and fortifying the institutional framework for the development of production activity. Withou…

Resumen de los documentos técnicos preparados por el ILPES para la IV Conferencia de Ministros y Jefes de Planificación de América Latina y el Caribe = Summary of the technical documents prepared by ILPES for the IV Conference of Ministers and...

Contiene los resumenes, los principales antecedentes, y las conclusiones y recomendaciones que se derivan de los diversos trabajos que ha preparado el ILPES en cumplimiento de las tareas que le fueran encomendadas por la III Conferencia de Ministros y Jefes de Planificacion de America Latina y el Caribe.…

Síntesis: planificación y políticas públicas en 1982-1984 y perspectivas para la segunda mitad de la década = Summary: public planning and policies in 1982-1984 and prospects for the second half of the decade

Ofrece una sintesis de diversos estudios del Instituto, referida a las pautas de debate: la crisis externa y la reactivacion; el papel del Estado en la coordinacion de politicas economicas y sociales en la segunda mitad de la decada. Resume, en anexos, los temas 1) centralizacion y descentralizacion en las decisiones gubernamentales, 2) politicas publicas y desarrollo social, y 3) la planificacion y los planes de desarrollo, 1982-1984. Los documentos en que se baso la sintesis se pueden obtener por separado.…

Regional integration and public policy. Evaluation of the European experience and possible implications for Latin American integration

Towards an integrated vision for dealing with instability and risk

This article puts forth a hypothesis and a challenge. The hypothesis: structural change in the international economy and in the management of public policy has brought about changes in economic performance, affected employment, poverty, and equity and resulted in greater insecurity and uncertainty. The challenge: coping with this insecurity and uncertainty despite public policy's abandonment of its historical role and the lack of success thus far of the new approaches. This study points to the greater vulnerability today stemming from the labour market as well as asymmetries in trends in …

Directions for the reform process in the Caribbean

Summary This document outlines the recent economic performance of the Caribbean countries and some of the salient issues and problems confronting policy making at this time. A discussion on trading relationships and the prospects facing the Caribbean in the changing regional and world environment follows. The Lome Convention, bananas, the Sugar protocol, the state of the Caribbean Community, CARIBCAN and the CBI are examined in this section. Challenges facing state reform, such as poverty, social services and the financial system are highlighted.…

II Foro Iberoamericano de Ministras y Ministros de Trabajo sobre trabajo decente y educación