The political economy of the new left in Latin America: Does the bell toll for neoliberalism?

Abstract

It was with distinct pleasure that I received an invitation to contribute this chapter to help celebrate Werner Baer’s seventy-fifth birthday. Werner has played a critical and unique role in the evolution of development economics and the study of the economies of Latin America. In a career spanning six decades, he has been instrumental in producing research that has succeeded in being of the highest quality while also managing to be engaging and accessible. From his base in Vanderbilt University and then the University of Illinois, Werner has fostered the careers of generations of economists. His influence has been especially marked in Latin America where economics departments and finance ministries across the region are replete with his former students. He has also been extraordinarily energetic in fostering ongoing academic ties between the U.S. and Latin America. In this sense, it is no exaggeration to say that Werner has made a significant contribution to hemispheric relations.