附註:Includes bibliographical references (pages 151-161) and index.
Is geography destiny? -- 1. The channels of influence of geography: Latin America from an international perspective -- The diverse geographical regions of Latin America -- History -- Geography and development -- Will geography matter in the future? 2. The other side of the mountain: the influence of geography within countries -- Mexico -- Bolivia -- Colombia -- Peru -- Brazil -- 3. Policies to overcome the limitations of geography -- Regional development -- Research and technology -- Information and market signals -- Urban policies.
摘要:Geographic interpretations of development recently have become the subject of much renewed interest and debate within scholarly and public policy circles. Focusing on Latin America, this book examines how physical and human geography has influenced the region's potential for economic and social development. The book assesses how geography affects differences in development between countries and more specifically between Latin America and other regions of the world. The effects of geography on regional development are examined through four channels: the productivity of land, health conditions, frequency and intensity of natural disasters, and access to markets. The book then explores how geography has influenced development within countries through case studies of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru-countries significant for their geographical diversity as well as their wide socioeconomic disparities. These case studies illustrate numerous exceptions to international patterns and prove that while geography matters, it need not determine a country's destiny. Using the knowledge gained from these two perspectives, the book concludes with recommendations for policies that can help countries overcome the limitations imposed by geography and thereby enhance their potential for economic and social development.-Publisher's website. , Challenging the premise that geography is destiny, this book joins a growing body of literature studying the links between geography and development. Focusing on Latin America, the book argues that based on a better understanding of geography, public policy can help control or channel its influence toward the goals of economic and social development. The principal purpose of this book is to contribute to the renaissance in research on geography as a factor that influences, but does not necessarily determine, development.
