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Cover image of Market, Socialist, and Mixed Economies
Cover image of Market, Socialist, and Mixed Economies
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Market, Socialist, and Mixed Economies

Comparative Policy and Performance--Chile, Cuba, and Costa Rica

Carmelo Mesa-Lago
with Alberto Arenas de Mesa, Ivan Brenes, Verónica Montecinos, and Mark Samara

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How can we determine which economic model best provides for economic development and social welfare? In this major comparative work, noted economist Carmelo Mesa-Lago analyzes three Latin American countries with divergent economic systems: Chile (a market economy), Cuba (socialist), and Costa Rica (mixed). He examines their economic and social policies, shows how these policies affect performance based on a set of socioeconomic variables, and ranks the countries among themselves (using new techniques) and in comparison with international indicators. The time frame of the study embraces thirty...

How can we determine which economic model best provides for economic development and social welfare? In this major comparative work, noted economist Carmelo Mesa-Lago analyzes three Latin American countries with divergent economic systems: Chile (a market economy), Cuba (socialist), and Costa Rica (mixed). He examines their economic and social policies, shows how these policies affect performance based on a set of socioeconomic variables, and ranks the countries among themselves (using new techniques) and in comparison with international indicators. The time frame of the study embraces thirty-eight years for Costa Rica (under the democratic social democracy) and Cuba (under the socialist revolution) and twenty-four years for Chile (under Pinochet and the return to democracy). Mesa-Lago focuses on the three diverse socioeconomic models that these countries represent during these periods.

Reviews

Reviews

A remarkable work, even by the exacting standards Carmelo Mesa-Lago has set himself over his long and distinguished career. It offers depth as well as breadth combined with a mass of detailed statistical information that has been honed carefully to ensure comparability across countries.

This ambitious and massive book is the pinnacle of Professor Mesa-Lago's long and distinguished career. It is a tour de force that is a must for serious scholars in the field of comparative economic systems.

This is a hugely impressive and informative work that examines an important economic and political issue... an ambitious and successful project, with a wealth of detail on economic policies in three different economic models.

[This book] is a treasure trove of useful information for country specialists and generalists... an impressive volume.

With the thoroughness, single-mindedness, and creativity that has characterized his scholarly work Mesa-Lago has tackled the very difficult topic of contemporary Latin American economic development. [His book] is accessible to advanced undergraduate and graduate students as well as to professionals. The profession owes a debt of gratitude to [him] for undertaking this monumental effort.

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Book Details

Publication Date
Status
Available
Trim Size
6.125
x
9.25
Pages
736
ISBN
9780801877483
Author Bios
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Carmelo Mesa-Lago

Carmelo Mesa-Lago is theDistinguished Service Professor Emeritus of economics and Latin American studies at the University of Pittsburgh and a former professor of international relations at Florida International University. His works on Latin America's social security and health care, the Cuban economy, and comparative economic systems have been published in eight languages and in thirty-two...