OECD territorial reviews. The Mesoamerican region : Southeastern Mexico and Central America.

The Territorial Development Policy Committee was created by the Organisation for Co-Operation and Development in 1999 for the purpose of reviewing national policies aimed at improving the economic competitiveness of regions. The Committee has now begun applying the national review methodology to multinational regions, including, as in this report, Southeastern Mexico and Central America. The report is divided into three parts that analyze the principal socio-economic indicators of the region; provide "inclusive development" policy recommendations regarding improving the region's human capital, firms' quality standards, and network between cities, as well a specific policies aimed at such sectors as tourism, agro-industry, light manufacturing, and logistics; and discuss governance issues of regional institutional reforms and means of strengthening administrative and planning capacity at the national and sub-national levels. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) Annotation This publication is part of a series of reviews undertaken by the OECD Territorial Development Policy Committee, which seek to give practical policy advice to national and regional governments. This report focuses on the Mesoamerican region (MAR) which includes the seven central American countries (Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama) and nine south-eastern states of Mexico. This region is characterised by high poverty levels, large urban-rural disparities, and a large informal economy, but also has a strategic location, rich natural and cultural resources, and light manufacturing. This publication examines how Mesoamerica could better exploit its economic potential and improve its competitiveness, social cohesion and governance through a comprehensive development agenda Mesoamerica is a region characterized by high poverty levels, large urban-rural disparities, and a large informal economy, but also having a strategic location, rich natural and cultural resources, and light manufacturing. This study examines how Mesoamerica could better exploit its economic potential. It shows how the region could improve its competitiveness and social cohesion and strengthen governance through a comprehensive development agenda