Ouverture, concurrence internationale et inégalités dans les pays à revenu intermédiaire: le cas de l'Amérique latine

A panel data analysis is used to evaluate the effects on openness/inequalities relationship of such factors as factor endowments, associated trade diversification paths, openness of low wage Asiatic countries and technological bias in imports. The focus is on Latin America. Predictions of Heckcher-Ohlin's model are only partially confirmed since endowments and consequent specializations have deepened inequalities. Openness has only amplified some of the internal inequalities making process that existed before and had some positive impacts through technology transfers implied by imports and their effects on growth.(Full text in French)