Commodity Markets and Latin American Development: A Modeling Approach

The structure of the book is designed to provide a perspective on the relation between primary commodities and economic development in Latin America. The approach taken from a disciplinary point of view is basically a quantitative or modeling one. However, embellishments of a qualitative nature would seem necessary to make the examination of commodity impacts more comprehensive. The organization of the book is in four parts. The first part surveys Latin America's commodity markets from the point of view of policy planning needs and related modeling methodologies. The second part presents models of commodity markets of importance to Latin America. The third part studies the
interrelationships between commodity markets and their dependent national economies with special emphasis on the mineral and agricultural sectors. Featured are the latest advances in models which analyze this interrelationship. The fourth part extends the modeling analysis by examining the international initiatives currently being taken in regard to stabilization and the related UNCTAD Integrated Program. For those readers less familiar with modeling methodologies, Chapters 2, 3, and 9 provide a general introduction to important policy issues concerning commodities and development.