"A look at how the low productivity in Latin America and the Caribbean
is preventing the region from catching up with the developed world. The
authors look beyond the traditional macro explanations and dig all the
way down to the industry and firm level to uncover the causes. The book
examines productivity growth by focusing on the extreme heterogeneity of
sectors and firms, emphasizing the importance of policies that allow
firms to thrive and expand. The book zeros in on the critical services
sectors, particularly those, such as transportation and retail, with
important repercussions on the rest of the economy. It challenges the
argument that the region is condemned to stagnation and examines a
number of policy levers that can transform its economies. "