Latin America: availability of data for demographic estimates on the basis of indirect techniques

Includes bibliography

The impact of climate change on the macroeconomy in the Caribbean

In this study, an attempt is made to assess the economic impact of climate change on nine countries in the Caribbean basin: Aruba, Barbados, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, Saint Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago. A methodological approach proposed by Dell et al. (2008) is used in preference to the traditional Integrated Assessment Models. The evolution of climate variables and of the macroeconomy of each of the nine countries over the period 1970 to 2006 is analyzed and preliminary evidence of a relationship between the macroeconomy and climate change is examined. The preliminary investigation uses correlation, Granger causality and simple regression methods. The preliminary evidence suggests that there is some relationship but that the direction of causation between the macroeconomy and the climate variables is indeterminate. The main analysis involves the use of a panel data (random effects) model which fits the historical data (1971-2007) very well. Projections of economic growth from 2008 to 2099 are done on the basis of four climate scenarios: the International Panel on Climate Change A2, B2, a hybrid A2B2 (the mid-point of A2 and B2), and a ‘baseline’ or ‘Business as Usual’ scenario, which assumes that the growth rate in the period 2008-2099 is the same as the average growth rate over the period 1971-2007. The best average growth rate is under the B2 scenario, followed by the hybrid A2B2 and A2 scenarios, in that order. Although negative growth rates eventually dominate, they are largely positive for a long time. The projections all display long-run secular decline in growth rates notwithstanding short-run upward trends, including some very sharp ones, moving eventually from declining positive rates to negative ones. The costs associated with the various scenarios are all quite high, rising to as high as a present value (2007 base year) of US$14 billion in 2099 (constant 1990 prices) for the B2 scenario and US$21 billion for the BAU scenario. These costs were calculated on the basis of very conservative estimates of the cost of environmental degradation. Mitigation and adaptation costs are likely to be quite high though a small fraction of projected total investment costs.

Fostering economic policy coordination in Latin America: the REDIMA approach to escaping the prisoner's dilemma

Includes bibliography

Economics of climate change in Latin America and the Caribbean: summary 2010

Spanish version available at the Library

Proposed regional agenda on population and development for Latin America and the Caribbean beyond 2014

The document revisits, broadens and updates the discussions contained in ECLAC documents Input for the preparation of a regional agenda for the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development: towards 2014 and beyond (LC/L.3219(CEP.2010/4)), of 2010, and Reflections on the population and development agenda for Latin America and the Caribbean beyond 2014 (LC/L.3481(CEP.2/5)), of 2012..

Convertibility and the banking system in Argentina

Includes bibliography

Pension system reforms, the capital market and saving

Includes bibliography

The "China effect" on commodity prices and Latin American export earnings

Includes bibliography

Productive development in open economies

Includes bibliography

Investing better in order to invest more. Finance and management of education in Latin America and the Caribbean

Includes bibliography

Framework for implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in the small island developing states of the Caribbean subregion

Includes bibliography

Renewable energy sources in Latin America and the Caribbean: situation and policy proposals

Includes bibliography

Technical Notes on Trade Facilitation Measures

Towards the end of 2004, the members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) formally launched negotiations on trade facilitation on the basis of the modalities set out in Annex D of the July Package adopted in 2004. This mandate instructed members to clarify and improve three articles of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), namely, article V on freedom of transit, article VIII on fees and formalities connected with importation and exportation, and article X on the publication and administration of trade regulations. To support these negotiations, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) created a trust fund, with contributions from the Governments of Sweden and Spain . This fund has been used to develop a series of seminars and meetings and to produce a total of 20 technical notes on specific trade facilitation measures. These notes cover in particular facilitation measures that are topics of specific proposals that were made during WTO negotiations. This edition of the FAL Bulletin summarizes several of these technical notes, focusing mainly on customs-related issues.

Research on policies and institutions to support small and medium scale enterprise in the Caribbean: Trinidad adn Tobago report

The Government of Trinidad and Tobago continues to provide support to SMEs in order to enhance their international competitiveness. The increasing effects of globalization and the reality of several trade agreements require that local businesses attain and maintain a level of competitiveness which ensures their continued survival and growth. This report examines in detail the policy environment within which these enterprises operate. It also examines the role of the key implementing agencies such as the BDC and NEDCO for government’s policy on the sector and also the role of the respective line ministries. These organizations strive to deliver value added technical, financial and export promotion services to its clients on a subsidised basis. The services offered reflect five key business areas such as financing, training, technical assistance, trade assistance, business re-engineering, project management and export promotion. In the case of the BDC its services target six sectors: food and beverage, metal processing, leisure marine, including yachting, information and communication technology/electronics, printing and packaging and entertainment. These said sectors are identified by the government, on the basis of a study which was done by TIDCO, for the promotion of a cluster development strategy. In the case of NEDCO it targets the following sectors: art and craft, food and beverages, fashion and fashion accessories, culture and ecotourism, bed and breakfast operations, indigenous entertainment and light manufacturing.