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AbstractWhy is corruption so prevalent in the majority of developing Latin American countries? While there are several forces driving it, this article focuses on its links to natural‐resource endowment. We present empirical evidence based on a panel dataset of 103 developing countries from 1996 to 2016, suggesting that there is an overall positive relationship between natural‐resource abundance and corruption. What, then, explains the divergent performances of resource‐rich developing economies in the region in terms of corruption? We argue that the workings of a social contract mechanism between the state and citizens mediate the resource–corruption relationship. This article identifies the ability of the state to tax the nonresource sector as a crucial component of such a mechanism, through which the unfavorable effects of natural‐resource abundance on corruption can be alleviated to a certain extent. Finally, our country studies suggest that the direct components of nonresource tax revenues do more to condition the resource–corruption linkage than the indirect components.

BACKGROUND: El Salvador is recognized as a country that has effectively reduced its Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR). While health indicators, such as total fertility rate, adolescent fertility rate, skilled birth attendance, and health expenditures, have improved in El Salvador, this improvement was unremarkable compared to advancements in other developing countries. How El Salvador could achieve an outstanding decrease in MMR despite unexceptional improvements in health and non-health indicators is a question that deserves deep research. We used quantitative methods and an observational case study to show that El Salvador could reduce its MMR more than expected by instituting health policies that not only aimed to reduce the (adolescent) fertility rate, but also provide safe birthing conditions and medical services to pregnant women through maternity waiting homes. METHODS: We ran pooled ordinary least squares regression and panel regression with fixed effects using MMR as the dependent variable and health and non-health factors as the independent variables. We conducted residual analysis, calculated the predicted value of MMR, and compared it with the observed value in El Salvador. To explain the change in MMR in El Salvador, we carried out an observational case study of maternity waiting homes in that country. RESULTS: El Salvador could reduce MMR by improving health factors such as fertility rate skilled birth attendance and non-health factors, such as gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and female empowerment. However, even while considering these factors, the MMR of El Salvador decreased by more than expected. We confirmed this by analyzing the residuals of the regression model. This improvement in MMR, which is larger than expected from the regression results, can be attributed partly to government measures such as maternity waiting homes. CONCLUSIONS: The reason for the unexplained reduction in El Salvador's MMR seems to be attributed in part to health policies that not only aim to reduce the ...

Introduction -- China-Latin America economic relations in the new millennium -- Japan's internationalization strategy and Latin America -- Economic relations between Korea and Latin America -- Summary and discussion

This book represents a valuable contribution to the study of Asia-Latin America relations from the unprecedented collaboration of leading Latin American specialists of China, Japan, and Korea, representing views from their respective countries. The academic literature on this topic remains quite limited in spite of rapid expansion of the interregional trade and investment and active engagements to institutionalize relationships in recent years. Especially, the views from Asian academic researchers have not been expressed often. This book reveals why the partnership between the two geographically distant regions has gained more importance recently. The authors also discuss some tensions arising from the intensifying relationship, including the concentration in a few commodities of Latin American exports and the competition of Latin American industry with Asian exports, as well as geopolitical problems.--