Global Agenda Council on Latin America 2011

Latin America has emerged relatively unscathed from the recent global economic downturn. The pace of recovery in 2010-2011 seems robust, with an estimated 4% growth rate for the region as a whole – higher than global growth forecasts. More importantly for the future, macroeconomic indicators promise to be less volatile than in the past. 

However, one-fourth of the region’s 600 million inhabitants still live below the poverty line with unequal access to basic services and infrastructure. Latin American countries also face other challenges: achieving regional cooperation and integration, quality education, energy security and sustainable use of natural resources. Consensus in the region on the means to strengthen democracies, increase private sector participation and reduce poverty seems to be fading.