Although often neglected in the international press, Latin American governance is extremely well-studied. With its long history of both democratic and authoritarian political models as well as economies ranging from highly protected to relatively open, the region has served as a laboratory of sorts for a wide variety of different governing methods. The following are links to reports on the region from recent months. They are in general fairly extensive, most are policy-oriented, and a few have technical elements, but all shed light on recent thinking on governance in the region.
When people are asked what Latin America’s major economic problems are, the first answer is invariably either “inequality” or “poverty.” The World Bank recently issued a new study of regional inequality that seeks to both describe trends and identify solutions. With respect to poverty, it is generally agreed that sustained economic growth is the single most critical factor in lifting standards of living. The Center for Global Development and the Inter-American Dialogue released a report in January specifically related to pro-poor economic growth. Many of the themes, such as eliminating corruption and establishing the rule of law, will be familiar to Countries at the Crossroads readers. Relatedly, one of the most frequently discussed social problems in the region is exclusion. The Inter-American Development Bank recently issued its 2008 Economic and Social Progress Report, which this year focuses on exclusion.
Several recent documents also address slightly more specific topics. An Inter-American Dialogue report discusses education, a sector where the region suffers from profound shortcomings. On a more micro level, a World Bank study looks at the relationship between formal registration and profit levels for Bolivian firms. This is important as many policy observers note that the region’s high rate of informality is holding back economic growth (the same observers also usually note that the incentives provided by the state to register and pay taxes are generally lacking).
Another specific topic that is all too familiar to anyone familiar with the region or who's ever watched a movie with a Latin America plotline is the issue of crime. Crime rates continue to grow in many countries, often undermining institutions. The Washington Office on Latin America released a report in January on organized crime and the threat it poses both to institutions and the human rights of citizens. Similarly, the International Crisis Group has released two new reports that discuss one of the primary drivers of crime in the region: the drug trade. One discusses the failure of the war against drugs in its current incarnation, while another analyzes possible ways to improve policy. Finally, another WOLA report looks at a specific instance of failure: the damage done by aerial fumigation in Colombia.
For many Latin Americans, one of the central obstacles to better policymaking has been the policymakers themselves. This goes far in accounting for the oft-discussed “left turn” in the region in recent years. An excellent report from the Wilson Center provides some of the context often missing in analyses of the left turn. Another hope for new blood in politics comes from the gradually increasing role of women in national politics. A report from the Inter-American Dialogue provides analysis of the region’s progress in this regard.
The rise of China has led to much hand-wringing in recent years about the lack of conditionality in Chinese aid and investment and how that will affect governance. While Asia and Africa have been the focal points of this analysis, a recent joint SAIS-Wilson Center report examines the very real effects of China’s rise on Latin America.
Finally, for a mother lode of governance-related papers check out the Copenhagen Consensus for Latin America and the Caribbean site. The Copenhagen Consensus is a project that encourages discussion of development issues by asking “If Latin America were willing to spend, say, $10 billion more over the next five years on improving welfare, which projects would have the greatest benefits?” The question provoked a torrent of interesting responses, with results broken down by category, that are well worth examining in detail.
Readers are encouraged to leave other recent reports of note (both thematic and country-specific are fine) in comments.
Map credit: Wikipedia
