Policy alternatives and strategies for the Plurinational State of Bolivia following the end of trade preferences

Include bibliography

Policy alternatives and strategies for the Plurinational State of Bolivia following the end of trade preferences

Includes bibliography

The Mexican economy at the end of the century

Includes bibliography

Concessions and road and rail transport optimization

Includes bibliography

Latin American agriculture: its prospects up to the end of the century

Examina las actuales tendencias y problemas agropecuarios, tanto en el plano mundial como en América Latina, a fin de disponer del marco apropiado para analizar las perspectivas futuras de la región.

Capital flows to Latin America: year end 2005

Includes bibliography

Capital flows to Latin America: year end 2006

Includes bibliography

Port-rail integration: challenges and opportunities for Latin America

This issue of FAL Bulletin analyses the role of good modal integration between port facilities and the rail network to ensure port competitiveness.

Competition and complementarity between road and rail transport in the carriage of freight

A seminar on competition and complementarity between road and rail transport in the carriage of freight was conducted at ECLAC Headquarters on 6-7 November 2001. The seminar was attended by experts on transport matters from a range of countries, and their presentations covered the current state of integration of transport in countries like Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Mexico. Also in attendance was an expert from Central America, who spoke about modal integration of freight transport in that region. Three round-table discussions were held with the participation of representatives of the trucking and rail sectors, drawn from both the private and public spheres.

The opportunities and risks associated with privatizing railways in Latin America

Most railways in Latin America were built by private firms, often foreign owned. Over time, owing to a combination of nationalizations and competition from road transport, virtually all railways passed into government hands; the railroad industry became more and more of a white elephant for the Government because of the ever-increasing subsidies it swallowed up, its dwindling role in national economies, and a conviction that Governments should not be involved in productive activities. Consequently, the late 1980s saw the start of a trend towards denationalization of railways, with the latter being turned over to private, often foreign, interests. In this way, the railway industry in Latin America has come full circle in the space of 150 years. So far, there has not been any assessment of the recent privatization of railways in Latin America. However, the conclusion would probably be that: (i) privatization has on the whole been successful, and (ii) the results achieved would have been more positive still, had some things been done slightly differently. One problem is that the bidding process has failed to take into account the positive externalities associated with railways, such as the contribution they make to reducing road maintenance costs and environmental damage caused by road transport. Another unresolved issue is whether to put the entire railway system up for tender, or to invite separate bids for infrastructure and services. Economies of scale operate in the railway industry, favouring the existence of a number of rail companies. In the past, the railway companies of neighbouring countries such as Argentina and Paraguay, and Bolivia and Chile, enjoyed ties at director level, but these came to an end with the nationalization of railways. Now that the era of State involvement is itself drawing to a close, we can expect to see the formation of integrated railway systems, one of which might extend from Quijarro, on the border between Bolivia and Brazil, to Puerto Montt in the south of Chile.

Rail, urban transport and road maintenance: current trends and prospects

This edition of the FAL Bulletin provides an account of recent developments and trends in rail and urban transport and road maintenance in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Current issues and prospects in the transport sector: urban transport, rail transport and highway maintenance

This edition of the FAL Bulletin tells of recent events and trends in urban transport, railways and highway maintenance in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The potential for more trade by rail between Brazil and its neighbours in the Southern Cone

This edition of the FAL bulletin contains the summary of a review carried out by ECLAC concerning the potential for a higher level of trade via rail between Brazil and other countries of the expanded Mercosur, and through those countries with Asia.At present, such trade occurs at very low levels, except in the case of trade with Bolivia. Some projects are planned, however, that would improve integration of the railway network in the Southern Cone, without requiring very significant levels of investment. If those projects are executed, the prospects would be good in the medium and long term for substantially increasing trade by rail in the region.