Economic Development of Latin America: Historical Background and Contemporary Problems(Series Number 8 Cambridge Latin American Studies)

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.

Table of Contents:
Tables; Preface to second edition; Preface to first edition; Abbreviations; Maps; Part I. From the Conquest to the Formation of Nation-States: 1. Introduction: the land and the people; 2. Economic and social background of the territorial occupation; 3. First half of the nineteenth century; Part II. Entry into the System of International Division of Labour: 4. The transformation of international trade in the second half of the nineteenth century and its impact on Latin America; 5. Reorientation of the international economy in the present century; 6. Some indicators of the degree of development reached in Latin America; Part III. The Traditional Structural Pattern: 7. Characteristics of agrarian structures; 8. Distribution and utilisation of the social income; 9. Monetary and foreign exchange systems; Part IV. Characteristics of the Industrialisation Process: 10. The industrialisation process (i); 11. The industrialisation process (ii); 12. Imbalances created by import-substituting industrialisation: structural inflation; Part V. Reorientation of Development in the Recent Period: 13. Evolution of macroeconomic structures; 14. Agricultural sector; 15. Industrial sector; 16. Inadequate growth and the reorientation of development; Part VI. International Relations: 17. Traditional forms of external dependence; 18. New forms of external dependence; 19. Towards the restructuring of the international economy; Part VII. Intra-Regional Relations: 20. Integration process in Central America; 21. LAFTA and the Andean group; Part VIII. Structural Reconstruction Policies: 22. Economic planning experiments; 23. Agrarian reforms; 24. Economic aspects of the Cuban Revolution; 25. Present problems and prospects; Bibliography; Index.

Review :
'Probably the most thorough overview of Latin American economic history presently available ... Furtado's most important characteristic as an economist is willingness to consider economic problems in their total complexity; there are no simplifications here and no easy conclusions ...'. Choice 'Professor Furtado's approach is highly professional. He leads his reader with academic thoroughness from a preliminary analysis of the historical roots of Latin Americna social and economic institutions, through the period of the industrial revolution to a more detailed study of such aspects of his subject as foreign trade, regional integration, agrarian reform and restructuring for the future.' Economist ' ... surprisingly successful, eminently readable and a mine of useful information and ideas for the economic historian or development economist turning his attention to this area ... even the expert might be glad to have this well-informed and well-stocked volume on his shelves.' Economic Journal