Emerging Capital Markets and Globalization - (Latin American Development Forum) by Augusto De La Torre & Sergio Schmukler (Paperback)

About the Book

Emerging Capital Markets and Globalization analyzes where we stand and where we are heading on capital market development, the state and evolution of Latin American capital markets and related reforms, measuring the impact of reforms, and discusses the prospects for capital market development in Latin America and emerging economies and the implications for the reform agenda

Book Synopsis

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.

From the Back Cover

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.

Review Quotes

"This insightful analysis of what went wrong in Latin America's capital markets since the 1990s is a must read for anyone interested in financial markets, international finance, or economic development. I learned an enormous amount from reading Emerging Capital Markets and Globalization and will recommend it highly to students and colleagues."--Ross Levine, Brown University

About the Author

Augusto de la Torre is Senior Regional Financial Sector Advisor for Latin America and the Caribbean. Sergio Schmukler is a Senior Economist in the Development Research Group of the World Bank.