This is an introductory survey of the history and recent development of
Latin American economy and society from colonial times to the
establishment of the military regime in Chile. In the second edition the
historical perspective has been enlarged and important events since the
Cuban Revolution, such as the agrarian reforms of Peru and Chile, the
difficulties of the Central America Common Market and LAFTA, the
acceleration of industrialisation in Brazil and the consolidation of the
Cuban economy, are discussed. The statistical information has been
extended to the early 1970s and the demographic data to 1975.