This book addresses a diverse set of challenges facing Latin American economies. These range from the role of neo-liberal policies, deficit targeting, import substitution, role of institutions, trade and regional development and human capital and poverty.

This article examines the degree of market and firm competitiveness that developed in Brazil in the 15 years since the introduction of neo-liberal policies. In particular, it evaluates the extent to which trade liberalization and the freeing-up of domestic markets has resulted in more...