1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910458405103321

Titolo

The macroeconomics of populism in Latin America / / edited by Rudiger Dornbusch and Sebastian Edwards

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Chicago : , : University of Chicago Press, , 1991

ISBN

1-281-22329-8

9786611223298

0-226-15848-9

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (ix, 402 pages) : illustrations

Collana

A National Bureau of Economic Research conference report

Disciplina

339.5/098

Soggetti

Populism - Latin America

Latin America Economic conditions 1945- Congresses

Latin America Economic policy Congresses

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Papers of a conference held at the Interamerican Development Bank in May 1990.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Nota di contenuto

Front matter -- National Bureau of Economic Research -- Contents -- Preface -- Introduction -- 1. The Macroeconomics of Populism -- 2. The Political Economy of Latin American Populism -- 3. Populism, Profligacy, and Redistribution -- 4. Description of a Populist Experience: Argentina, 1973-1976 -- 5. What Have Populists Learned from Hyperinflation? -- 6. Sixty Years of Populism in Brazil -- 7. The Socialist-Populist Chilean Experience, 1970-1973 -- 8. Populism and Economic Policy in Mexico, 1970-1982 -- 9. The Illusion of Pursuing Redistribution through Macropolicy: Peru's Heterodox Experience, 1985-1990 -- 10. Collapse and (Incomplete) Stabilization of the Nicaraguan Economy -- 11. On the Absence of Economic Populism in Colombia -- Contributors -- Name Index -- Subject Index

Sommario/riassunto

Again and again, Latin America has seen the populist scenario played to an unfortunate end. Upon gaining power, populist governments attempt to revive the economy through massive spending. After an initial recovery, inflation reemerges and the government responds with wage an price controls. Shortages, overvaluation, burgeoning deficits, and capital flight soon precipitate economic crisis, with a subsequent



collapse of the populist regime. The lessons of this experience are especially valuable for countries in Eastern Europe, as they face major political and economic decisions. Economists and political scientists from the United States and Latin America detail in this volume how and why such programs go wrong and what leads policymakers to repeatedly adopt these policies despite a history of failure. Authors examine this pattern in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Peru-and show how Colombia managed to avoid it. Despite differences in how each country implemented its policies, the macroeconomic consequences were remarkably similar. Scholars of Latin America will find this work a valuable resource, offering a distinctive macroeconomic perspective on the continuing controversy over the dynamics of populism.