Economic Development, Economic Growth and Income Distribution
Structuralist Perspectives on Latin America and Beyond
Published on 18. November 2025
Book
Hardback
328 pages
978-1-80392-990-3 (ISBN)
Description
Adopting a structuralist approach, this informative book discusses the international obstacles to economic growth and the role of individual sectors including manufacturing and services in political economies. It also examines key issues, such as the determinants of economic growth through capital accumulation and technological change.
Leading experts shed light on the importance of aggregate demand in relation to trade and capital flows, addressing socio-economic inequality and regional divergence. Focussing on Latin American countries, they showcase regional disparities and demonstrate the historical regimes that have perpetuated income inequalities. Covering key case studies, such as the social polarization in Colombia and the challenges for inclusive growth in Argentina, they reveal the institutions, policies and economic agents involved in the development of Mexico's political economy. The book further demonstrates that there is much more to economic development than neoliberal reforms, identifying the roles of inflation and fiscal expansion, alongside contemporary obstacles to economic growth.
A vital resource for students and academics in economics, public policy, and human and development geography, this book will also greatly benefit researchers and policymakers in economic development and politics.
Leading experts shed light on the importance of aggregate demand in relation to trade and capital flows, addressing socio-economic inequality and regional divergence. Focussing on Latin American countries, they showcase regional disparities and demonstrate the historical regimes that have perpetuated income inequalities. Covering key case studies, such as the social polarization in Colombia and the challenges for inclusive growth in Argentina, they reveal the institutions, policies and economic agents involved in the development of Mexico's political economy. The book further demonstrates that there is much more to economic development than neoliberal reforms, identifying the roles of inflation and fiscal expansion, alongside contemporary obstacles to economic growth.
A vital resource for students and academics in economics, public policy, and human and development geography, this book will also greatly benefit researchers and policymakers in economic development and politics.
Reviews / Votes
'This accessible and stimulating volume is essential reading for both graduate economics students of economic development and policymakers. Moving beyond highly theoretical approaches, the authors emphasize the critical role of economic structure and government policy in shaping the growth and development path. The impact of history, institutions, political processes, and global economic dynamics are also assessed, making this a real-world exploration of the challenges policymakers face in creating the conditions for development.' -- Stephanie Seguino, University of Vermont, USA 'This unique book contains fourteen deeply researched essays that, skilfully navigating between theory and empirics, examine macro-economic development with a particular emphasis on Latin America. The authors interpret economic development and structural change from modern-day structuralist perspectives and focus on growth, technological upgrading (to escape commodity dependence), income distribution and the political economy of the state, always in a centre-periphery world. Brimming with original ideas, all of enduring significance, the book, honouring the late Jaime Ros, is a tour de force of modern structuralist economic thinking. It is bound to generate much discussion, further thinking and critical debate.' -- Servaas Storm, Delft University of Technology, the NetherlandsMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cheltenham
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-80392-990-3 (9781803929903)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Edited by Amitava Krishna Dutt, Department of Political Science, University of Notre Dame, Nora Lustig, Department of Economics, Tulane University, USA, Juan Carlos Moreno Brid, Faculty of Economics, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico and Jose Antonio Ocampo, School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University, USA
Content
Contents
Preface and acknowledgements x
PART I MACROECONOMICS AND DEVELOPMENT:
GENERAL AND GLOBAL ISSUES
1 Structuralist perspectives on economic development in Latin
America and beyond 2
Amitava Krishna Dutt, Nora Lustig, Juan Carlos Moreno
Brid and Jose Antonio Ocampo
2 The Africa rising narrative: economic growth, the terms of
trade, structural change, and global uneven development 24
Omar S. Dahi, Firat Demir and Amitava Krishna Dutt
3 Inflation in dual economies 49
Peter Skott
4 Slow inflation = wage repression: fiscal expansion won't
change the equation 73
Lance Taylor
PART II LATIN AMERICA: INEQUALITY, GROWTH AND
SECTORAL ISSUES
5 Latin America's inequality changes under different political
regimes 85
Giovanni Andrea Cornia
6 Thinking about inequality in Latin America in times of
commodity booms and pandemics 105
Diego Sanchez-Ancochea
7 External challenges to economic growth in Latin America 124
Juan Carlos Moreno-Brid, Esteban Perez Caldentey, Lorenzo
Nalin and Edgar Perez-Medina
8 What role for modern services in Latin America's economic
development? 141
Eva Paus
9 Some considerations on capital accumulation, structural
change, and innovation in four Latin American economies 168
Jose I. Casar, Gabriela Dutrenit and Martin Puchet Anyul
10 Regressive structural change and the challenges for inclusive
growth in Argentina 189
Jose Maria Fanelli and Nora Lustig
11 Economic and social polarization in Colombia 208
Jose Antonio Ocampo and Natalie Gomez-Arteaga
PART III MEXICO: POLITICAL ECONOMY, CAPITAL
ACCUMULATION AND REGIONAL DISPARITIES
12 The political economy of Mexican development: institutions,
policies, and economic agents 229
Leonardo Lomeli Vanegas
13 Sluggish capital accumulation with a rising profit share: four
hypotheses for the Mexican economy 248
Robert A. Blecker and Carlos A. Ibarra
14 Regional disparities in per capita income in Mexico and the
role of manufacturing industry 278
Penelope Pacheco-Lopez and Anthony P. Thirlwall
Preface and acknowledgements x
PART I MACROECONOMICS AND DEVELOPMENT:
GENERAL AND GLOBAL ISSUES
1 Structuralist perspectives on economic development in Latin
America and beyond 2
Amitava Krishna Dutt, Nora Lustig, Juan Carlos Moreno
Brid and Jose Antonio Ocampo
2 The Africa rising narrative: economic growth, the terms of
trade, structural change, and global uneven development 24
Omar S. Dahi, Firat Demir and Amitava Krishna Dutt
3 Inflation in dual economies 49
Peter Skott
4 Slow inflation = wage repression: fiscal expansion won't
change the equation 73
Lance Taylor
PART II LATIN AMERICA: INEQUALITY, GROWTH AND
SECTORAL ISSUES
5 Latin America's inequality changes under different political
regimes 85
Giovanni Andrea Cornia
6 Thinking about inequality in Latin America in times of
commodity booms and pandemics 105
Diego Sanchez-Ancochea
7 External challenges to economic growth in Latin America 124
Juan Carlos Moreno-Brid, Esteban Perez Caldentey, Lorenzo
Nalin and Edgar Perez-Medina
8 What role for modern services in Latin America's economic
development? 141
Eva Paus
9 Some considerations on capital accumulation, structural
change, and innovation in four Latin American economies 168
Jose I. Casar, Gabriela Dutrenit and Martin Puchet Anyul
10 Regressive structural change and the challenges for inclusive
growth in Argentina 189
Jose Maria Fanelli and Nora Lustig
11 Economic and social polarization in Colombia 208
Jose Antonio Ocampo and Natalie Gomez-Arteaga
PART III MEXICO: POLITICAL ECONOMY, CAPITAL
ACCUMULATION AND REGIONAL DISPARITIES
12 The political economy of Mexican development: institutions,
policies, and economic agents 229
Leonardo Lomeli Vanegas
13 Sluggish capital accumulation with a rising profit share: four
hypotheses for the Mexican economy 248
Robert A. Blecker and Carlos A. Ibarra
14 Regional disparities in per capita income in Mexico and the
role of manufacturing industry 278
Penelope Pacheco-Lopez and Anthony P. Thirlwall