Until fairly recently, many economists looked at Latin America with horror and dismay. Burdened by debt, and ravaged by hyperinflation and unemployment, it was often characterized as a financial disaster zone. Even now, many commentators consider that this resource-rich part of the world underperforms in comparison with other emerging economies. And how to explain stark differences within the area, such as the poor growth rates of the Atlantic-facing countries of Venezuela, Brazil, and Argentina compared with the Pacific Alliance? More precisely, how do the various Latin American economies function? And what are the future prospects for the region?
As serious research on and around Latin American economics continues to blossom, this new title from Routledge’s Critical Concepts in Economics series addresses these and other questions. In four volumes, the collection provides a much-needed compendium of foundational and the very best cutting-edge scholarship.
Latin American Economics is fully indexed and has a comprehensive introduction, newly written by the editor, which places the collected material in its historical and intellectual context. It is an essential work of reference and is destined to be valued by scholars and students as a vital one-stop research and pedagogic resource.
Volume 1: History
1. Herbert S. Klein and Ben Vinson ‘The Establishment of African Slavery in Latin America in the 16th Century’ in African Slavery in Latin America and the Caribbean, 2nd ed. (New York: Oxford University Press, 2007)
2. Daron Acemoglu and James R. Robinson ‘The Persistence and Change of Institutions in the Americas’ Southern Economic Journal 75, 2, 2008, p282-99.
3. Leandro Prados de la Escosura ‘Lost Decades? Economic Performance in Post-Independence Latin America’ Journal of Latin American Studies 41, 2, 2009, p279-307.
4. Gerardo Della Paolera and Alan M. Taylor ‘Sovereign Debt in Latin America, 1820-1913’ NBER Working Paper No 18363 (Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research, 2012)
5. Bilge Erten and José A. Ocampo ‘Super Cycles of Commodity Prices since the Mid-Nineteenth Century’ World Development 44, 2013, p14-30.
6. Luis Bértola and John G. Williamson ‘Globalization in Latin America before 1940’ in V. Bulmer-Thomas, J. H. Coatsworth, and R. Cortés Conde (eds.), The Cambridge Economic History of Latin America, vol. 2. (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2006)
7. Alan M. Taylor ‘On the Costs of Inward-Looking Development: Price Distortions, Growth, and Divergence in Latin America’ The Journal of Economic History 58, 1, 1998, p1-28.
8. Luis Bértola and Gabriel Porcile ‘Convergence, Trade and Industrial Policy: Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay in the International Economy, 1900-1980’ Journal of Iberian and Latin American Economic History 1, 1, 2006, p37-67.
9. John Williamson ‘Five Centuries of Latin American Income Inequality’ Journal of Iberian and Latin American Economic History 28, 2, 2010, p227-52.
10. Pablo Astorga, Ame R. Bergés, and Valpy Fitzgerald ‘The standard of living in Latin America during the twentieth century’ Economic History Review 54, 4, 2005, p765-96.
Volume 2: Growth
11. Stanley L. Engerman and Kenneth L. Sokoloff ‘Factor Endowments, Institutions, and Differential Paths of Growth Among New World Economies: A View from Economic Historians of the United States’ in S. Haber (ed.), How Latin America Fell Behind (Palo Alto, CA: Stanford University Press, 1997)
12. Juan S. Blyde and Eduardo Fernández-Arias ‘Why Latin America is Falling Behind’ in Eduardo Fernández-Arias, Rodolfo Manuelli, and Juan S. Blyde (eds.), Sources of Growth in Latin America: What is Missing? (Washington, D.C.: Inter-American Development Bank, 2005)
13. José De Gregorio and Jong-Wha Lee ‘Growth and Adjustment in East Asia and Latin America’ Economia, 5, 2004, p69-134.
14. José G. Palma ‘Flying Geese and Waddling Ducks: The Different Capabilities of East Asia and Latin America to ‘Demand-Adapt’ and ‘Supply-Upgrade’ their Export Productive Capacity’ in M. Cimoli, G. Dosi, and J. E. Stiglitz (eds.), Industrial Policy and Development: The Political Economy of Capabilities Accumulation (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009)
15. Mushtaq H.Khan and Stephanie Blankenburg ‘The Political Economy of Industrial Policy in Asia and Latin America’ in M. Cimoli, G. Dosi, and J. E. Stiglitz (eds.), Industrial Policy and Development: The Political Economy of Capabilities Accumulation (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009)
16. Eduardo Lora ‘Structural Reforms in Latin America: What Has Been Reformed and How to Measure It’ IDB Working Paper Series no IDB-WP-346 (Washington, D.C.: Inter-American Development Bank, 2012)
17. Jeromin Zettelmeyer ‘Growth and Reforms in Latin America: A Survey of Facts and Arguments’ IMF Working Paper No. WP/06/210 (Washington, D.C.: International Monetary Fund, 2006)
18. Alberto Chong and Carmen Pagés ‘Taxes and Productivity: A Game of Hide and Seek’ in Carmen Pages (ed.), The Age of Productivity: Transforming Economies from the Bottom Up (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2010)
19. José A. Ocampo ‘Latin America’s Growth and Equity Frustrations during Structural Reforms’ Journal of Economic Perspectives 18, 2, 2004, p67-88.
Volume 3: Open Economy Macroeconomics
20. Eduardo Fernández-Arias and Jorge E. Pérez ‘Grading Fiscal Policy in Latin America in the Last Decade’ Inter-American Development Bank Policy Brief No IDB-PB-216 (Washington, D.C.: Inter-American Development Bank, 2014)
21. Pablo García-Silva and Manuel Marfán ‘Monetary Policy in Latin America: Performance Under Crisis and the Challenges of Exuberance’ in José A. Ocampo and Jaime Ros (eds.) The Oxford Handbook of Latin American Economics (New York: Oxford University Press, 2011)
22. Roberto Frankel and Martin Rapetti ‘Exchange Rate Regimes in Latin America’ in J. A. Ocampo and J. Ros (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Latin American Economics (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011)
23. Sebastian Edwards ‘The Debt Crisis and Economic Adjustment in Latin America’ Latin American Research Review 24, 1989, p172-86.
24. Sebastian Edwards ‘Capital Inflows into Latin America: A Stop-Go Story?’ NBER Working Paper No. 6800 (Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research, 1998)
25. Luis A. V. Catão ‘Sudden Stops and Currency Drops: A Historical Look’ in Edwards, Sebastian, Gerardo Esquivel, and Graciela Marquez (eds.). The Decline of Latin American Economies: Growth, Institutions, and Crises (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2007)
26. Graciela L. Kaminsky, Carmen M. Reinhart, and C. A. Végh ‘When It Rains, It Pours: Procyclical Capital Flows and Macroeconomic Policies’ NBER Macroeconomics Annual 2004, 19, 2005, p11-53.
27. José A. Ocampo ‘Latin America and the Global Financial Crisis’ Cambridge Journal of Economics, 33, 2009, p703-24.
28. Bertrand Gruss ‘After the Boom-Commodity Prices and Economic Growth in Latin America and the Caribbean’ IMF Working Paper 14/154 (Washington, D.C.: International Monetary Fund, 2014)
Volume 4: Issues for the 21st Century
29. Miguel Urquiola ‘Education’ in J.A. Ocampo and J. Ros (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Latin American Economics (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011)
30. César Calderón and Luis Servén ‘Infrastructure in Latin America’ World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 5317 (Washington, D.C.: World Bank, 2010)
31. Mauricio Mesquita Moreira, Christian Volpe, and Juan S. Blyde ‘An Overview of Trade and Transport Costs in LAC’ in Unclogging the Arteries: The Impact of Transport Costs on Latin American and Caribbean Trade (Washington, DC: Inter-American Development Bank, 2008)
32. Francisco Ferreira and David Robalino ‘Social Protection in Latin America: Achievements and Limitations’ World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 5304 (Washington, D.C.: World Bank, 2010)
33. Carmelo Mesa-Lago ‘Social Security in Latin America: Pension and Health Care Reforms in the Last Quarter Century’ Latin American Research Review 42, 2, 2007, p181-201.
34. Pablo Acosta, Pablo Fajnzylber, and J. Humberto Lopez ‘How Important Are Remittances in Latin America?’ in Pablo Fajnzylber and J. Humberto Lopez (eds.), Remittances and Development: Lessons from Latin America (Washington, D.C.: World Bank, 2008)
35. Leonardo Gasparini, Guillermo Cruces, and Leopoldo Tornarolli ‘Recent Trends in Income Inequality in Latin America’ Economia 10, 2011, p147-201.
36. Gerardo Esquivel, Nora Lustig, and John Scott ‘Mexico: A Decade of Falling Inequality: Market Forces or State Action?’ in L. López-Calva and N. Lustig (eds.), Declining Income Inequality in Latin America: A Decade of Progress? (Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution, 2010)
Biography
Professor Sawyer's primary research interests have been in the areas of international economics and economic development. He has authored or co-authored a number of research articles that have appeared in journals such as the Review of Economics and Statistics, the Journal of Regional Science, Economic Development and Cultural Change, and Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv. His current research focuses on the effects of international trade on U.S. states and regions. He is a member of the American Economic Association and the International Economics and Finance Society.
