Integrating the Americas: FTAA and Beyond (David Rockefeller Centre for Latin American Studies): 11 (Series on Latin American Studies) - Softcover

Estevadeordal, Antoni; Rodrik, Dani; Taylor, Alan M; Velasco, Andres; Taylor, Alan M.; Velasco, Andrés

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0674014847 ISBN 13: 9780674014848

Publisher: Harvard University Press, 2004

Synopsis

Where Latin American government leaders once looked at free trade agreements as solely about trade and trading policies, they are increasingly viewing them as the next beacon of hope in the long and arduous road of economic reform. Integrating the Americas: FTAA and Beyond discusses how these governments have become embroiled in a larger set of issues affecting both institutions. This work, based on a conference sponsored by the Inter-American Development Bank and the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies, examines how this free trade process is surging ahead, while at the same time taking on a broader set of issues including institutional reform, transparency, the environment, labor, and social cohesion. The payoffs to the strategy of liberalization, privatization, and openness have been meager and disappointing to date. Will the FTAA be able to reverse this and allow Latin America to reap the benefits of globalization?

About this title

Review

Latin America is at a crossroads. Growth has slowed, and prospects are not very encouraging. Fortunately, there are several promising directions that the region can take. A prominent one is the FTAA. Thus, this book comes out precisely when it is needed. I have no doubt that this book will occupy a pivotal place in the discussion of the FTAA, and will become a key reference in the literature about regional integration.--Guillermo A. Calve, Chief Economist, Inter-American Development Bank and University of Maryland

As we approach the more serious talks and negotiations towards a FTAA, this timely book fills a much needed gap. With broad coverage which includes historical, theoretical, and empirical research, Integrating the Americas sheds light on what undoubtedly will be a process which will play a key role in shaping the future of Latin America.--Arminio Fraga, Former Governor of the Central Bank of Brazil

Free trade areas enable countries to pursue more open trade, but raise controversial economic and political issues. This volume offers state-of-the-art analysis of issues raised by a Free Trade Area of the Americas, including its impact on agriculture, services, monetary arrangements, trade patterns, wages and labor standards growth, and democratic governance, both for those countries within the agreement and those left out. An invaluable reference on the FTAA, it will also define research issues for similar free trade agreements elsewhere.--Robert Feenstra, University of California, Davis

About the Author

Antoni Estevadeordal is a Principal Trade Economist of the Inter-American Development Bank. Dani Rodrik is Rafiq Hariri Professor of International Political Economy at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. Alan M. Taylor is Professor of Economics at the University of California, Davis. Andr s Velasco is Sumitomo Fasid Professor of International Development at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.

Edition details

• Publisher: Harvard University Press
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0674014847
• ISBN 13: 9780674014848
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 860