Human resources in Latin America and the Caribbean

Within the emerging Latin American consensus on development, human resource investments are considered essential for reducing poverty and integrating economic growth and social reform. Investing in people enables work forces to adapt to rapidly changing markets and share in the benefits of economic growth.

Human Resources in Latin America and the Caribbean examines investments across the region in education, training, health and nutrition. The book points to the impact of human resource investment on productivity and income distribution, and examines how changes in human resource policies - particularly those affecting the delivery of social services - could substantially improve returns in several key areas of development.

Although a survey finds Latin America's human resources fare relatively well by international comparison - with high investment levels in some countries associated historically with good macroeconomic performance - important gaps and inadequate investment in recent years are cause for concern.