LACS Lecture: Why Is Development So Elusive to Latin American Countries? Should Development Mean Something Different in Latin America than in the Rest of the World?

Co-sponsors: Erb Institute, at the Ross School of Business, School of Natural Resources and Environment , and School of Social Work Office of Global Activities

The purpose of this talk is to consider not only the challenges -- economic, political, social, and even environmental -- in the path ahead for Latin America and its member nations, but also to ponder on the reasons for its resilience in pursuing some very idiosyncratic policies. Does development await any nations in the region any time soon?  Should the term “development” mean different things in the region and elsewhere?  What may be the key “gordian knots” that we must untie if we want to see a prosperous, egalitarian, democratic, and sustainable Latin America?

Alberto Trejos

is professor and Dean at INCAE (Central American Institute of Business Administration) Business School. As Costa Rica’s Minister of Foreign Trade, he led the negotiation of CAFTA. He was President of the Board of CINDE, the agency in charge of attracting foreign direct investment, and member of CONASSIF, the entity that regulates and supervises Costa Rica’s financial system. Professor Trejos has been a consultant for a variety of governments, international organizations, and companies in Latin America, Europe and Africa.

Co-sponsors: Erb Institute, at the Ross School of Business, School of Natural Resources and Environment , and  School of Social Work Office of Global Activities