Toward Inclusive Development in Latin America

Beschreibung

"A major contribution to the analysis of how to fulfill the triple dimensions of sustainable development: economic growth, social development, and environmental sustainability."—José Antonio Ocampo, Professor at Columbia University, former Minister of Finance of Colombia, and UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs

The global green transition presents a unique opportunity for resource-rich Latin American nations to leverage natural assets to reduce problematic structural barriers while expanding social inclusion and strengthening responses to climate change.

This book examines why coordinated and proactive development strategies—aligned with emerging global sustainability imperatives—are essential for achieving these goals. It outlines the contours of an inclusive green development strategy, placing a green developmental state at the center and emphasizing the role of broadly defined industrial policies. Drawing on heterodox economics and international political economy, Eva Paus and Rafael Domínguez analyze how Latin American governments can respond to current economic and geopolitical pressures.

Systemic change is possible if states adopt environmental-developmental roles, pursue active non-alignment, and engage in more coordinated foreign policy efforts. Readers will gain insight into the political and economic conditions that shape the feasibility of inclusive green development. The resulting book breaks down the strategic choices available to governments seeking to integrate sustainability with long-term economic transformation and inclusion. It offers a grounded perspective on how policy direction, institutional capacity, and international positioning can be used to navigate the challenges of our times.

Eva Paus is Professor of Economics Emerita at Mount Holyoke College in the USA.

Rafael Domínguez Martín is Professor of Economic History and Institutions in the Department of Economics at the University of Cantabria in Spain.

"A major contribution to the analysis of how to fulfill the triple dimensions of sustainable development: economic growth, social development, and environmental sustainability."—José Antonio Ocampo, Professor at Columbia University, former Minister of Finance of Colombia, former UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, and former Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean

The global green transition presents a unique opportunity for resource-rich Latin American nations to leverage natural assets to reduce problematic structural barriers while expanding social inclusion and strengthening responses to climate change.

This book examines why coordinated and proactive development strategies—aligned with emerging global sustainability imperatives—are essential for achieving these goals. It outlines the contours of an inclusive green development strategy, placing a green developmental state at the center and emphasizing the role of broadly defined industrial policies. Drawing on heterodox economics and international political economy, Eva Paus and Rafael Domínguez analyze how Latin American governments can respond to current economic and geopolitical pressures.

Systemic change is possible if states adopt environmental-developmental roles, pursue active non-alignment, and engage in more coordinated foreign policy efforts. Readers will gain insight into the political and economic conditions that shape the feasibility of inclusive green development. The resulting book breaks down the strategic choices available to governments seeking to integrate sustainability with long-term economic transformation and inclusion. It offers a grounded perspective on how policy direction, institutional capacity, and international positioning can be used to navigate the challenges of our times.

Autor*in

Eva Paus

Themen in »Toward Inclusive Development in Latin America«

Structural transformation in Latin America Green and Inclusive Structural Transformation in Latin America Heterodox economics and political economy Economic future Latin America Extractivism to Inclusive Green Development Global green transition Sustainable development in Latin America

Stimmen zu »Toward Inclusive Development in Latin America«

“The book’s contribution to the debate is its meticulous description of the potential challenges for implementing necessary State policies in the current geopolitical climate ... that will be required. ... This book’s innovative and timely proposal calls upon decision makers of the region to take advantage of the opportunity before them. ... Paus and Domínguez offer a much-needed analysis to understand the trade situation and to mitigate the risks and seize the opportunities that it presents.” (José Eduardo Alatorre and Santiago Lorenzo, CEPAL Review, Issue 147, December, 2025)

“‘Toward Inclusive Development in Latin America’ is a lucid, courageous, timely, and well-documented contribution to the need for Latin America to create its specific path towards sustainable development departing from the continent’s particular set of natural resources. The book uses political economy approaches which point to the need to create different political alliances that can put the state as a central agent for such a development. Very welcome, indeed.” (Luis Bértola, Professor of Economic History and Development, Universidad de la República, Uruguay)

“Domínguez and Paus have put forth a 21st century growth trajectory for Latin America that capitalizes on the region’s location-specific assets in transition minerals, large endowments of solar and wind energy potential, and deep and underutilized store of human capital. The authors show how countries can engage in green structural transformation that can result in lower carbon, more socially inclusive, and resilient economic growth paths. Such a strategy will take a spark of political and economic investment. The costs of inaction on such a strategy far outweigh such investments, making this book an essential and urgent blueprint.” (Kevin Gallagher, Professor and Director, Boston University Global Development Policy Center)

“This book is a major contribution to the analysis of how to fulfill the triple dimensions of sustainable development: economic growth, social development, and environmental sustainability. A ‘green development state’ at the center of an inclusive green development strategy, together with the promotion of regional cooperation, are essential proposals for both national development and the contribution of Latin America to the achievement of major global goals.” (José Antonio Ocampo, Professor, Columbia University’ former Minister of Finance of Colombia; former UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs; and former Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean)

“Using a combination of heterodox economics and international geopolitical economy, Paus and Domínguez propose a timely and innovative strategy – Inclusive Green Development (IGD) – that Latin American countries should adopt to address three major obstacles to their social and economic progress: growth-reducing structural change, limited social inclusion, and high inequalities, and climate change. Two fundamental pillars for its effective implementation are a green developmental state and a broad-based agreement on industrial policies. The development strategy and policy proposals outlined are not only applicable to the Latin American context but also highly relevant to the broader developing world.” (Esteban Pérez Caldentey, Chief of the Financing Unit for Development, Economic Development Division, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean)

“The climate transition poses a significant challenge to Latin America’s development ambitions. This book shows how it can be turned into an opportunity. Paus and Domínguez make a timely and useful case for green industrial policies as the cornerstone of inclusive economic growth strategies in the region. Scholars and policy makers alike will benefit from their analysis.” (Dani Rodrik, Professor, Harvard University)

“How can Latin American countries consolidate a greener, more equitable and more dynamic future? ‘Toward Inclusive Development in Latin America’ calls for a new policy approach: green industrial policy, together with a more redistributive state, can deliver win-win-win solutions. The book offers a detailed discussion of the interventions required for structural transformation and green growth. Going beyond policy recommendations, it also considers the political economic conditions needed to deliver successful change. Internally, it calls for new state-society relations with a central role for the middle class and social movements. Externally, it proposes a non-alignment strategy in the current great power competition between the US and China. This superb book is a necessary read for students of Latin American development and policymakers alike.” (Diego Sánchez-Ancochea, Professor of the Political Economy of Development, University of Oxford)

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