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Why Are Latin Americans So Unhappy About Reforms?

Author

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  • Ugo Panizza
  • Monica Yañez

Abstract

This paper uses opinion surveys to document discontent with the pro-market reforms implemented by most Latin American countries during the 1990s. The paper also explores four possible sets of explanations for this discontent: (i) a general drift of the populace's political views to the left; (ii) an increase in political activism by those who oppose reforms; (iii) a decline in the people's trust of political actors; and (iv) the economic crisis. The paper's principal finding is that the macroeconomic situation plays an important role in explaining the dissatisfaction with the reform process.

Suggested Citation

  • Ugo Panizza & Monica Yañez, 2005. "Why Are Latin Americans So Unhappy About Reforms?," Journal of Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 8(1), pages 1-29, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:recsxx:v:8:y:2005:i:1:p:1-29
    DOI: 10.1080/15140326.2005.12040616
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    Cited by:

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    2. Newburry, William & Gardberg, Naomi A. & Sanchez, Juan I., 2014. "Employer Attractiveness in Latin America: The Association Among Foreignness, Internationalization and Talent Recruitment," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 20(3), pages 327-344.
    3. Denisova, Irina & Eller, Markus & Frye, Timothy & Zhuravskaya, Ekaterina, 2012. "Everyone hates privatization, but why? Survey evidence from 28 post-communist countries," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 40(1), pages 44-61.
    4. Grilli, Enzo, 2005. "Political economy and economic development in Latin America in the second half of the 20th century," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 27(1), pages 1-31, February.
    5. Denisova, Irina & Eller, Markus & Frye, Timothy & Zhuravskaya, Ekaterina, 2009. "Who Wants To Revise Privatization? The Complementarity of Market Skills and Institutions," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 103(2), pages 284-304, May.
    6. Qichun He & Meng Sun & Heng-Fu Zou, 2013. "Financial Deregulation, Absorptive Capability, Technology Diffusion and Growth: Evidence from Chinese Panel Data," Journal of Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(2), pages 275-301, November.
    7. Bonnet, Céline & Dubois, Pierre & Martimort, David & Straub, Stéphane, 2009. "Empirical Evidence on Satisfaction with Privatization in Latin America: Welfare Effects and Beliefs," IDEI Working Papers 566, Institut d'Économie Industrielle (IDEI), Toulouse.
    8. Murillo, Maria Victoria & Foulon, Carmen Le, 2006. "Crisis and policymaking in Latin America: The case of Chile's 1998-99 electricity crisis," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 34(9), pages 1580-1596, September.
    9. Avilés, Judith Mariscal, 2020. "A tale of two reforms: Telecommunications reforms in Mexico," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(7).
    10. Stein, Ernesto & Caro, Lorena, 2017. "Ideology and taxation in Latin America," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 123080, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    11. Sirovátka, Tomáš & Guzi, Martin & Saxonberg, Steve, 2019. "Support for Market Economy Principles in European Post-Communist Countries during 1999–2008," MPRA Paper 97585, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    12. Rafael Di Tella & Robert MacCulloch, 2009. "Why Doesn't Capitalism Flow to Poor Countries?," Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, Economic Studies Program, The Brookings Institution, vol. 40(1 (Spring), pages 285-332.
    13. Carro Fernandez, Martha, 2007. "Welcoming Foreign Direct Investment? A Political Economy Approach to FDI Policies in Argentina and Brazil," MPRA Paper 47252, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • P16 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies - - - Capitalist Institutions; Welfare State
    • O54 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Latin America; Caribbean

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