The Mesoamerican Region

Transcription

1 OECD Territorial Reviews The Mesoamerican Region SOUTHEASTERN MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA OECD ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT

2 Table of Contents Abbreviations List 10 Introduction 13 Assessment and Recommendations 15 Chapter 1. Trends and Challenges in the Mesoamerican Region Introduction Defining the unit of analysis - Mesoamerica The region's shared economic potential 39 Improving infrastructure to capitalise on the privileged geographic location 40 Regional economic opportunities linked to rich natural and cultural resources 45 Assembly and light manufacturing industries: competitive challenges and new opportunities Mesoamerica's economic and social challenges 52 Macroeconomic performance 53 Territorial disparities and poverty 66 Trends in inequality Conclusion : 78 Notes ''. 78 Chapter 2. Improving Competitiveness and Social Cohesion 81 Introduction The emergence of the competitiveness agenda in the MAR region 83 Regional integration efforts: setting the stage 83 Competitiveness policies: the business climate and growth sectors 86 MAR competitiveness performance and strategies 87 Common competitiveness challenges and priorities Crucial cross-sectoral determinants of competitiveness Building human capital 92 OECD TERRITORIAL REVIEWS: THE MESOAMERICAN REGION - ISBN O OECD 2006

3 Quality standards and technological upgrades to increase productivity and market access 100 Regional networks between cities Key industries for greater sectoral specialisation Ill Developing tourism Ill Agro-industry: from regional production to world exports 116 Assembly and light manufacturing industries: capturing greater value-added in the supply chain Logistics industry: synergies with other sectors 125 Cluster initiatives to support microenterprises, SMEs and large firms Competitiveness and poverty 131 Poverty alleviation still a challenge, especially in rural areas 131 Are competitiveness and poverty alleviation mutually reinforcing? 132 Linking competitiveness and poverty reduction: stakeholders and strategies 133 Rethinking competitive strategies to integrate the poor Conclusion 139 Notes 140 Chapter 3. Towards More Effective Governance 145 Introduction The governance of Mesoamerica 146 Regional integration and governance 147 The need for a strategic vision and the cost of non-coordination 150 Successful areas of mesoregional co-operation 155 Towards an effective governance of the Mesoamerican region Multilevel governance in Mesoamerican countries 165 Decentralisation trends in MAR countries 165 Weak spending and administrative capacity at both national and sub-national levels 171 Lack of a multi-level framework for regional development 174 Towards an integrated, territorial approach to policy-making 175 Notes. 186 Bibliography 189 OECD TERRITORIAL REVIEWS: THE MESOAMERICAN REGION - ISBN OECD 2006

4 List of boxes 1.1. Mesoamerica's population statistics Logistics: what is it? How much does it cost? The Mesoamerican Biological Corridor: integrating conservation and competitiveness Characteristics of the poor and informal labourers in Mexico The impact of remittances on regional development Lack of land and credit access affect the indigenous populations The MAR's general migration trends Successful experiences in education Linking research and training for innovation in the MAR Parmalat and Nicaraguan dairy producers International Regional Metropolitan Networks: the Baltic Palette Three tourism success stories Four MAR food industry success stories Apparel maquila success story The case of INTEL in Costa Rica Port authority typologies Cluster initiatives in developing and transition economies Linking local producers with international markets The Madrid Agenda The complex structure of the SICA (Central American Integration System) The Puebla Panama Plan Half-year presidency of the EU: a mechanism to define and articulate the regional agenda Regional cohesion policies in the European Union Innovative local governance: the social funds in El Salvador and Nicaragua Local health systems in El Salvador Innovative experiences in participatory planning in El Salvador and Nicaragua Examples of multi-level contracts in OECD countries Inter-ministerial co-ordination for regional development: the cases of Mexico and Italy OECD experiences in local co-ordination mechanisms in rural areas Cross-border governance: the case of the "TRIFINIO" Performance management and performance budgeting 185 List of tables 1.1. Higher infrastructure development's impact on growth rates and inequality Electricity coverage in the MAR Importance of tourist activity, OECD TERRITORIAL REVIEWS: THE MESOAMERICAN REGION - ISBN OECD 2006

5 1.4. Leading exports from the agricultural sector, Agriculture, industry and services as % of GDP Macroeconomic indicators Distribution of the working population by employment sector Poverty incidence among the 12 and older working population, by sector Free trade agreements in the MAR Intraregional trade as a share of total trade MAR countries' major trading partners MAR poverty levels, Gini coefficient of income distribution Percentage of homes with unsatisfied needs, by area, circa School attendance rates for the population aged 7-15 years Estimated impact of DR CAFTA on trade, GDP and employment Competitiveness rankings (Business, Growth, and ICT Infrastructure), Competitiveness programs in the MAR Spending in education Report card on education: Central America and the Dominican Republic, Higher education in select MAR countries, Firms providing formal training, Upgrading and value chain typology Select Mesoamerican urban agglomerations Basic tourist indicators, Apparel and clothing exports to the USA in USD millions, IMF/World Bank poverty reduction strategy guidelines Mesoamerican energy sector in 2020: the case for co-ordination Programas Frcmterizos (CABEI-EU) Completed and future expected investments of the PPP, ODA flows in to Central American countries Governance indicators Size and number of Mesoamerican municipalities, Decentralisation trends in Central America Per capita public spending by sector, Municipal government expenditures 172 List of figures 1.1. The Mesoamerican region Cross-border concentrations of cultural tourism sites Mesoamerica's logistical corridors Mesoamerica's GDP growth 55 g OECD TERRITORIAL REVIEWS: THE MESOAMERICAN REGION - ISBN OECD 2006

6 1.5. Above average, average and below average GDP per capita countries Human development index (HDI) trends Distribution of household per capita income, Composite competitiveness index, Tertiary education, Institutional structure of the SICA ODA over gross national income, Indicators of fiscal decentralisation in OECD countries: sub-national governments' share in general government revenues and expenditures in Changes in the share of sub-national government contributions in total public revenues and spending between 1985 and OECD TERRITORIAL REVIEWS: THE MESOAMERICAN REGION - ISBN OECD 2006

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