Books launched to stimulate debate on new development agenda

To enrich the debate that could lead to the formulation of a new development agenda for the region, the Andean Development Corporation (CAF) today launched the books: Temas críticos para América Latina, Perspectivas and Capital social. These works synthesize a reflection process organized by the Andean development bank in seminars and forums in which key actors in the region’s political and economic life have participated.

At the launch, CAF Executive President Enrique García said that the books would enrich the space for discussion and analysis. The Latin American situation demonstrates the need for a new agenda of reforms and development which returns to the path of dynamic growth in a framework of social equity and democracy, where the core variables are sustainable development, competitiveness and regional integration.

The book Temas críticos para América Latina, written by officials of the multilateral organization, is a first effort to systematize this debate. The work summarizes part of the results of the reflections generated in forums and seminars, and identifies the areas where the region should concentrate its efforts to define a new agenda. These areas include external vulnerability and macroeconomic volatility, depth of financial markets, institutional competitiveness, violence and organized crime, poverty and inequality, and the sustainable use of biological wealth.

Perspectivas is the first issue of an alternative effort by the CAF to deepen the debate on the new agenda in a review format containing two types of academic work. First, "working papers" on research done by CAF executives, and studies taken from the Research Support Program on Development Issues, along with other contributions from the Corporation´s consultants. Second, the results of workshops on research into specific areas for comment by representative actors from the public, private and academic sectors, in an effort to extend the debate outside the Corporation.

The third publication, Capital social, is a collection of different approaches to the concept of social capital and its importance in the areas of environment, education, culture and competitiveness, among others. The book offers practical approaches that relate social capital to a range of sectors in order to generate positive impacts on public policies designed for the region.