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Latin American Economic Outlook 2014

Logistics and Competitiveness for Development

image of Latin American Economic Outlook 2014

Latin American economies continue to present relatively stable growth but continued uncertainty with regards to the duration of the commodity boom could pose threats to medium-term growth and economic development. Latin American countries face increasing competition from emerging economies across the globe particularly in manufacturing sectors. In this context of shifting wealth, it is increasingly important to foster competitiveness and connectivity.

Improving logistics performance is particularly important as it directly impacts growth, productivity, and trade within the region and beyond. The region’s productive structure with significant concentration in natural resource and agriculture augment the importance of logistics in fostering competitiveness. Nevertheless, logistics performance in the region faces serious gaps particularly in the areas of customs performance and the availability of infrastructure. Improving these aspects will entail more and better investment in infrastructure, as well as making the most of existing infrastructure by putting in place efficient trade facilitation measures and efficient and appropriate regulatory frameworks.

Coverage is provided for Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Columbia, Cuba, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatamala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

English Also available in: Chinese, Spanish

Latin America and shifting wealth

OECD Development Centre

This chapter analyses how economic development in Latin America is being influenced by the contemporary global context, in which global wealth is shifting towards emerging economies. It begins by explaining the main characteristics of this shift, in which China is playing a key role. It then assesses Latin America’s role in the process and some of the consequences that the shift is having on the region’s development model. The new global economic context is shaping an environment that makes it particularly difficult for Latin America to continue its structural transformation, overcome the middle-income trap and make its growth more inclusive. Finally, faced with the prospect that the global scenario will not change much in the near future, the chapter proposes various policy options to enable international integration in a way that fosters the region’s development: creating a more diversified production structure, enlarging the regional market, and capturing value added in the production chain.

English Also available in: Spanish

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