Latin America's economic performance is mediocre at best, despite
abundant natural resources and flourishing neighbors to the north. The
perplexing question of how some of the wealthiest nations in the world
in the nineteenth century are now the most crisis-prone has long puzzled
economists and historians. The Decline of Latin American Economies
examines the reality behind the struggling economies of Argentina,
Chile, and Mexico.
A distinguished panel of experts argues here that slow growth, rampant
protectionism, and rising inflation plagued Latin America for years,
where corrupt institutions and political unrest undermined the financial
outlook of already besieged economies. Tracing Latin America's growth
and decline through two centuries, this volume illustrates how a
once-prosperous continent now lags behind. Of interest to scholars and
policymakers alike, it offers new insight into the relationship between
political systems and economic development.