Suchergebnisse

The author reviews the threats to the rainforests of Brazil and Central America by cattle raising for mostly US-based fast food chains and by efforts to solve the urban over-population by allowing large-scale resettling of marginal city populations in deforested areas. The author calls for international collaboration to prevent the destruction of the earth lungs in Amazonia

Elaborado por solicitacao do Banco Mundial, este trabalho deve ser entendido como uma contribuicao aos debates que tiveram lugar no Seminario "Brasil: Desafios para o Desenvolvimento Urbano para a Proxima Decada", realizado no periodo de 22 a 24 de agosto de 1994, no Rio de Janeiro. No artigo sao analisadas algumas experiencias municipais bem-sucedidas de gestao urbana, das quais o autor procura extrair licoes que possam contribuir para mudar o quadro de degradacao atingido. Por ultimo, o documento compreende recomendacoes quanto a medidas voltadas para o fortalecimento da capacidade de gestao dos municipios, visando ampliar-lhes a participacao na promocao de uma nova politica de desenvolvimento urbano. (ram/DÜI)

In this article, the author discusses financial questions deemed as key issues, in highway privatization projects in Brazil. Expected returns, compared tariffs, costs, demand and capital structure are the core on this work. The author performs a simulation exercise based on one of the cases most frequently remembered as a candidate to privatization in the State of Sao Paulo: the system comprising the Anchieta and the Imigrantes highways, which make a connection between the city of Sao Paulo and the city of Santos, on the coast. The conclusions indicate that it is a feasible undertaking, provided that some restrictions are included in its design

The author examines US policies in Central America in the eight years of Ronald Reagan's presidency. The laxness of leadership during those years explains the Byzantine power structure, official measures contradicting one another

The author describes the Nicaraguan celebration of La Purisima, by far the most popular festivity in the country, and discusses this religious and social phenomenon as an expression of the position of women in Nicaraguan society

The author examines the constitution written under general Pinochet's military regime and shows why the political change taking place in Chile can at best produce a transitional regime that in turn may lead to democracy. The constitutional amendments required by the Chilean opposition are outlined

Miskito Nicaraguans have been returning from refugee camps in neighboring Honduras in significant numbers since long before the Contra war came to an end. The author describes this process and explains it by reviewing the unique agreement between Miskito organizations and the Sandinista government, providing for a measure of internal autonomy for the Miskito and other Indian groups

This paper deals with US interests in the world debt problem. In the general framework named as "transfer problem" the author presents a case study of Mexico and Brazil. He concludes showing five alternative solutions to the debt problem: an improved world macro-economy, facilities, debt-equity swaps, a reversal of capital flight, and Bradly-style debt relief

In this study the author briefly summarizes the difficulties faced by the developing countries concerning their foreign debt. He also discusses the factors which stand behind the ratios of indebtness most commonly used. Finally he presents a summary of the main proposals which have been advanced to reduce the foreign debt of Latin American and Third World countries

The author describes some of the main trends in the political development of Haiti after president-for-life, Jean-Claude Duvalier, fled the country in February 1986. The claim is made that the political and administrative vacuum left by Duvalier has been filled by competing sectors of Haiti's military establishment that has thus prevented a development toward democracy in the foreseeable future

This paper analyzes the recent evolution of the monetary and financial system of Argentine economy, particularly from the implementation of Plano Austral, June 15, 1985. According to the author, the initial impact of the stabilization plan had two elements that were emphasized: the increasing of demand for monetary resources, and the reduction of the fiscal deficit

The author concentrates on the development of Norway's relations with Central America. From virtually non-existing connections, the 1980s have seen the establishment of a Norwegian embassy in Costa Rica, and a substantial growth in aid to Sandinist Nicaragua. The political debate in Norway over Nicaragua is outlined, as is the anger provoked in the US government by the Central American policy of its NATO ally

The author compares the negotiating process of two agreements: Canada/USA and Argentina/Brazil. The main topic discussed is the harmonization of economic policies. In order to create a free trade area or a common market, governments have to face a difficult choice, between the economic benefits of integration and the political costs of restricted sovereignty. Two different configurations of this dilemma are analysed in this paper

This paper presents an alternative view of agricultural commercialization in the capitalist development process, in contrast with the functionalist approach derived from neoclassical economic theory. In the Brazilian economy, agricultural capital circulation depends on the social organization of production and the development of capitalist concentration, both determined by the modernization process. The author emphasizes the tendency toward subordination of circulation activities, the growing importance of different types of capital and its financial appreciation in agricultural production and circulation