In the 1980s a large number of Latin American countries reverted from military dictatorships to civilian democracies. In most cases the new democratic governments inherited an extremely precarious economic situation, which left little room to manoeuvre. This book analyzes the special problems that governments face in the formulation and implementation of economic policy after the restoration of democracy. In each of six cases - Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay - an analysis is made of the difficulties encountered and the performance of the democratic governments.

List of Tables - Notes on the Contributors - Foreword - A Note from the Editors - List of Abbreviations - Economic Policy after the Transition to Democracy: a Synthesis; J.A.Morales - Economic Policy in Bolivia after the Transition to Democracy; J.A.Morales - Democratic Restoration and Economic Policy: Argentina, 1984-91; M.Damill & R.Frenkel - An Economist's Political View of Democratization in Brazil - E.J.Amadeo - Democratic Restoration and Economic Policy: Uruguay 1985-89; L.Macadar - Economic Policy and the Transition to Democracy in Paraguay; M.H.Birch - Chile in Transition: Economic and Political Strategies; O.M.Goma & C.Celedon - Index