While Latin America accounts for approximately 7 percent of the world economy, easily accessible information on the economies of the region is not always easy to find. The existing literature on Latin American economics usually assumes some previous familiarity with the region and is focused on...

Recounts Brazil's evolution from remote Portuguese colony, through economic crises that led to more prudent monetary policies, and to its new status as a regional leader, a respected ambassador for the developing world, and an increasingly important partner for the United States and European...