"Compares financial sector reforms and their impact on economic growth and stability in selected countries of Latin America and Asia. Articles range from the quite specific (e.g., securities regulation in Thailand), to more general"--Handbook of Latin American Studies, v. 57.

"Examines Asia's emerging markets, which survived the financial debacle of 2008-09 with only modest declines in growth; discusses activities that could dampen continuing development in these markets including inflation, surging capital inflows, asset and credit bubbles, and rapid currency appreciation; and offers strategies to promote financial stability"--Provided by publisher.

This volume brings together frontline research on the prospects for rapid economic development in South Asia by leading academics and public policy experts. It reviews recent macroeconomic performance in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka and examines three emergent challenges for the Indian economy: devising a policy response to climate change, attaining the millennium development goals and restructuring state level finances. The book then analyzes financial sector reforms and development of information and communications technology (ICT) firms and privatization policy in India and the South Asian approach to free trade arrangements and multilateral trade. It studies issues related to foreign perceptions of South Asian development including governance and foreign direct investment flows into India and Nepal. Finally the book studies the impact of the structural composition of economic growth on poverty in India, the evolution of inequality in India and elements of a strategy for poverty reduction in South Asia.

Analyzes the deficiencies of the budget system and recommends ways of improving fiscal management so that it meets the requirements of a decentralized market-based economy. The structural transformation of the Russian economy since 1992 has been accompanied by major changes in the countrys fiscal picture, ranging from massive reductions in government spending (through the introduction of noninflationary treasury bill financing) to fiscal decentralization. This report analyzes the deficiencies of the budget system and recommends ways of improving fiscal management so that it meets the requirements of a decentralized market-based economy. The study focuses on two crucial and interrelated features of fiscal management that determine the outcome of fiscal policy and the allocative efficiency of government resources: intergovernmental fiscal relations, and the structural, technical and institutional aspects of the budget system.

Back in the early 1990s, economists and policy makers had high expectations about the prospects for domestic capital market development in emerging economies, particularly in Latin America. Unfortunately, they are now faced with disheartening results. Stock and bond markets remain illiquid and segmented. Debt is concentrated at the short end of the maturity spectrum and denominated in foreign currency, exposing countries to maturity and currency risk. Capital markets in Latin America look particularly underdeveloped when considering the many efforts undertaken to improve the macroeconomic environment and to reform the institutions believed to foster capital market development. The disappointing performance has made conventional policy recommendations questionable, at best. 'Emerging Capital Markets and Globalization' analyzes where we stand and where we are heading on capital market development. First, it takes stock of the state and evolution of Latin American capital markets and related reforms over time and relative to other countries. Second, it analyzes the factors related to the development of capital markets, with particular interest on measuring the impact of reforms. And third, in light of this analysis, it discusses the prospects for capital market development in Latin America and emerging economies and the implications for the reform agenda.

Beginning with volume 41 (1979), the University of Texas Press became the publisher of the Handbook of Latin American Studies, the most comprehensive annual bibliography in the field. Compiled by the Hispanic Division of the Library of Congress and annotated by a corps of more than 130 specialists in various disciplines, the Handbook alternates from year to year between social sciences and humanities. The Handbook annotates works on Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and the Guianas, Spanish South America, and Brazil, as well as materials covering Latin America as a whole. Most of the subsections are preceded by introductory essays that serve as biannual evaluations of the literature and research under way in specialized areas. The Handbook of Latin American Studies is the oldest continuing reference work in the field. Katherine D. McCann is acting editor for this volume. The subject categories for Volume 57 are as follows: Electronic Resources for the Social Sciences Anthropology Economics Geography Government and Politics International Relations Sociology