The main productivity issue in Latin America is that countries spend too many resources in small, underproductive companies.
In the 1960s, Latin America had a per capita income of 25% of that of the United States, but it has dropped to 16%. On the contrary, several Asian nations that had in 1960 much lower incomes than the region are now joining the ranks of high income countries.
High taxes and evasion eroding economic growth in Latin America and the Caribbean.
New IDB study says governments must simplify tax systems and reduce evasion
Complex tax systems and widespread evasion are distorting investment decisions by companies in Latin America and the Caribbean, reducing the efficiency of markets and preventing governments from investing in infrastructure, education and other key public goods.
High taxes and evasion eroding economic growth in Latin America and the Caribbean.
New IDB study says governments must simplify tax systems and reduce evasion
Complex tax systems and widespread evasion are distorting investment decisions by companies in Latin America and the Caribbean, reducing the efficiency of markets and preventing governments from investing in infrastructure, education and other key public goods.
Hillary Clinton remarked the need to reduce by 5% costs and delays at Latin American customs.
During Pathways to Prosperity in the Americas III Ministerial Meeting, the U.S. State Secretary commented that the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC), assumed a similar challenge for its member countries.
Costa Rica's Chancellor Bruno Stagno agreed with Clinton in that "speeding up Latin American customs remains a 'pending challenge' to increase the benefits of trade in the region".
The 2009 Index of Economic Freedom: El Salvador 33 in the world, Costa Rica 46, Panama 55, Nicaragua 84, Guatemala 87, Honduras 91.
The 2009 Index of Economic Freedom, produced by The Wall Street Journal and The Heritage Foundation, covers 183 countries across 10 specific freedoms such as trade freedom, business freedom, investment freedom, and property rights.
Cvil insecurity is a big challenge to human development in Central America, but this challenge comes with a solution.
No strong-arm tactics, but no soft touch either. Remedies for the heightened levels of insecurity in the region involve the application of "smart authority" within the context of respect for democracy and adherence to the rule of law, according to the Report on Human Development in Central America 2009-2010, Opening spaces for citizen security and human development. The release of the report was presided over by Mauricio Funes, the president of El Salvador, together with Rebeca Grynspan, Director of UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean; Jessica Faieta, the United Nations Resident Coordinator and Resident Representative of UNDP for El Salvador; Juan Daniel Alemán, the Secretary General of the Central American Integration System (CAIS); and Hernando Gómez Buendía, the general coordinator of the Report.
Corruption is a serious issue, with social, political, legal, economic and ethical implications, affecting public and private organizations.
"Why companies should worry about corruption".
"Corruption seems inoffensive in the surface; however, the behaviors which embody it end up destroying the basic pillars of society".
"A transparent and integral image makes a company more attractive to financial institutions, enhances the possibilities of reaching new markets and improves the chances of getting awarded contracts or public licenses".
Seminar covering best practices in agricultural value chains and financing its components.
The seminar is being organized to take place in Costa Rica in the second half of November, 2009.
The target audience will be representatives of financial entities active in the agricultural sector, non-financial companies with a stake in the sector (producers, cooperatives, processors, exporters, marketers, input suppliers), Government authorities, business chambers, non-governmental organizations, international organizations and academic the use of agricultural value chains as a mechanism for offering financial services to all the stakeholders involved.
Annual Economic Development Report (RED) 2009 "Pathways to the Future: Infrastructure Management in Latin America,” by the Andean Development Corporation (CAF.)
Improving societal infrastructure quality and quantity is not only essential to the prosperity and well-being of the people, it is also a significant challenge for public policy.
"The state of the infrastructure of a society is crucial for its development; in effect, infrastructure must be seen as an engine of development, a procedural impact that represents well-being and reaches homes and people," said the representative director of CAF in Peru, Eleonora Silva Pardo, during the presentation of the report, while mentioning that the CAF has become the main source of financing for Latin America in terms of infrastructure.
Abraham Lowenthall rediscovered the isthmus 25 ago and analyzes the changes that have occurred during that period.
In his column published in America Economia, the analyst asks us to "Imagine that your twin brother will wake up today from a 25 year coma and asks you for a report on the main changes that have occurred in Central America, what will you tell him?