Patterns of Development in Latin America: Poverty, Repression, and Economic Strategy

by John Sheahan

Overview

In this major work an economist with long experience as an advisor in developing countries explores the conflict between market forces and political reform that has led straight into Latin America's most serious problems. John Sheahan addresses three central concerns: the persistence of poverty in Latin American countries despite rising national incomes, the connection between economic troubles and political repression, and the relationships between Latin America and the rest of the world in trade and finance, as well as overall dependence. His comprehensive explanation of why many Latin Americans identify open political systems with frustration and economic breakdown will interest not only economists but also a broad range of other social scientists. This is "political economy" in the classical sense of the word, establishing a clear connection between the political and economic realities of Latin America.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780691022642
Publisher:	Princeton University Press
Publication date:	11/21/1987
Pages:	410
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

	Tables and Figures	vii
	Preface	ix
Part I	Persistent Issues
1.	Ways of Looking	3
2.	Poverty	23
3.	Employment and Earnings	49
4.	External Trade, Industrialization, and Economic Growth	74
5.	Inflation, External Deficits, and IMF Stabilization Programs	99
6.	Ownership I: Land	130
7.	Ownership II: Multinationals, Public Enterprise, and Dependency	155
Part II	National Patterns of Response
8.	Early Industrialization and Violent Reaction: Argentina and Brazil	179
9.	Reformism, Marxism, and Militant Monetarism: Chile	204
10.	Two Kinds of Revolutionary Alternative: Cuba, and Peru under Velasco	237
11.	Middle-Road Market Economies: Colombia, Costa Rica, and Mexico	271
Part III	Possibilities and Questions
12.	Economic Strategies, Social Strains, and Political Repression	313
13.	Is It Possible for the United States to Play a Constructive Role?	328
14.	From Conclusions to Ongoing Questions	355
	References	363
	Index	395

What People are Saying About This

Dominguez

This is an excellent book, unequalled in the existing scholarly literature. It fits an unoccupied niche in the social science literature: a discussion focused on economic topics on their own merits which is continentally comprehensive, historically informed, up to date in intellectual sophistication and contemporaneity, and exceptionally wellwritten.
— Jorge I. Dominguez, Harvard University

From the Publisher

"This is an excellent book, unequalled in the existing scholarly literature. It fits an unoccupied niche in the social science literature: a discussion focused on economic topics on their own merits which is continentally comprehensive, historically informed, up to date in intellectual sophistication and contemporaneity, and exceptionally wellwritten."—Jorge I. Dominguez, Harvard University

Editorial Reviews

"Any social scientist writing a general book on a comparative theme in Latin America immediately confronts a series of problems—the passions aroused by the theoretical debates (in this case structuralism, monetarism, and dependency); the need to synthesize these theoretical insights with conflicting empirical research; the vast quantity of literature which has appeared since the 1960s; and the choice of which countries to concentrate on and examples to use. John Sheahan's excellent book shows how a skillful and judicious writer can cut through the theoretical and empirical research to produce an effective study of the recent economic history of Latin America."

International Affairs

"An ambitious attempt to analyze continuities and changes in contemporary Latin America. The book focuses on three questions: what accounts for persistently strong inequalities of Latin America; what are the main effects on Latin America of its relations with the rest of the world; and what relationship has there been in Latin America between the trends toward market-oriented economic systems and extreme political repression. Using both topical and country-oriented approaches, Sheahan ranges widely and sensitively over recent Latin American experiences with market capitalism, Marxist socialism, and various middle-road alternatives. He draws balanced, reformist conclusions—aimed both at Latin American leaders and those who shape U.S. policy. A wise and perceptive book."

Foreign Affairs

"This is an excellent book, unequalled in the existing scholarly literature. It fits an unoccupied niche in the social science literature: a discussion focused on economic topics on their own merits which is continentally comprehensive, historically informed, up to date in intellectual sophistication and contemporaneity, and exceptionally wellwritten."—Jorge I. Dominguez, Harvard University

From the Publisher