The countries of Central America are often described as open economies because the ratio of trade to gross domestic product is high. The author reviews trends in economic performance, estimates the contribution of import substitution and export promotion to manufacturing growth, examines...

Given the paucity of basic information concerning the conditions of production and the ability of Central American industries to survive import competition, the Industrial Development Unit of ECLAC's Mexico Office decided to implement Project CAM/89/012 "Industrial restructuring in Central...