The Maritime Cycle and Industrial Trends in Latin America

This issue of the FAL Bulletin provides information on trends in current maritime transport and their implications for Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as some consequences for the ports in the region. This article updates some of the information contained in Recursos naturales e infraestructura series, No. 82 (ECLAC). This issue is based on a paper prepared by Ricardo J. Sánchez, Division of Natural Resources and Infrastructure, with the collaboration of Myriam Echeverría, Division of International Trade and Integration.

Expectations and industrial output in Uruguay: Sectoral interdependence and common trends

This paper examines the interdependence between expectations and growth by analysing Uruguayan manufacturing industry, divided for the purpose into four industry groupings differentiated by trade participation and production specialization. The study shows that there is a long-run relationship between industrialists' expectations and output growth in each grouping. In the most trade-oriented groupings the relationship is one of predetermination, showing how useful expectations are as a guide to sectoral growth. Expectations in the four industrial groupings are shown to follow a common long-run trend, identified with the one guiding the export grouping. Impulse-response simulations derived from a multisectoral vector autoregression (VAR) model confirm the important role of the industries most exposed to international competition in spreading shorter-term shocks.

A study on applicability of biotechnology to development in the Caribbean opportunities and risks

The present study analyzes the potential opportunities and risks involved in employing biotechnologies in the Caribbean region. This information would support developmental policies in the areas of food security, climate change and poverty reduction. The report provides a brief overview of biotechnology development, covering industrial and other microbial biotechnologies, tissue culture and molecular biology. Details of opportunities and risks of biotechnology development are provided for agricultural, industrial, environmental, industrial and medical biotechnology, with information on the global agreements for regulation of genetically modified organisms. The rest of the report analyzes the Caribbean situation. Biotechnology applications, opportunities and risks in the Caribbean are described in detail, with focus on industrial and agricultural biotechnology, and including climate change and constraints to biotechnology development. The report closes with a discussion of the applicability of biotechnology to the region in terms of agricultural, industrial, environmental, medical and marine biotechnology. Conclusions and recommendations are provided. The main conclusion of the study is that there is an urgent need for development and use of biotechnology in the Caribbean, especially in nonagro- biotech sectors, to address food security, climate change, poverty, environmental degradation, among other issues. In so doing, countries must take advantage of the opportunities presented by biotechnology to gain competitive advantage and benefits, while at the same time put measures in place to reduce or remove associated risks. This must be done taking into consideration economic as well as social and cultural issues.

The dynamics of industrial energy consumption in Latin America and their implications for sustainable development

Includes bibliography

Structural change and productivity growth 20 years later: old problems, new opportunities. Summary

Includes bibliography

Towards a theory of the small firm: theoretical aspects and some policy implications

Includes bibliography

Development banking in the Eastern Caribbean: the case of Saint Lucia and Grenada

Includes bibliography

Old and new trade policies

Includes bibliography

Changes in the industrial development of Latin America

Includes bibliography

The natural gas industry and its regulation in Latin America

Includes bibliography

Structural changes and productivity in Latin American industry, 1970-1996

Includes bibliography

Productive development in open economies

Includes bibliography