Víctor L. Urquidi

Military-related Debt in Non-oil Developing Countries, 1972–82

Of the public foreign debt acquired each year from 1972 to 1982 by non-oil developing countries, about 20 per cent is estimated to have been directly or indirectly attributable to the purchase of foreign weapons. Domestic military spending, by contributing to overall budget deficits, has also led to increased foreign borrowing by developing countries. Budget deficits in developed countries have led to interest rates which increase the debt problems of developing countries.

Global problems and individual participation.

are an anticipation of future situations of incalculable gravity that may arise if suitable policies are not adopted in time. These events may create alarm in the minds of many. But what is necessary is to attempt to understand the enormous complexity of present and future problems, taking into account, on the one hand, the probable increases in world population and trends in the consumption of scarce materials in the highly developed countries, and, on the other, technological prospects in their relation to particularly serious problems such as food production and distribution, energy availability and the

Some Observations on Economic Theory and Technical Change

The question of the relevance of economic theory to present-day society is particularly important when we come to the issues surrounding changes in technology. However loosely we define technical change (say, as changes in methods or processes of production as well as in the products themselves), the fact that it affects every aspect of social life undoubtedly justifies a close examination of the way in which economic theory tries to grasp this very complex phenomenon.

Comentario al Plan Nacional de Desarrollo, 2001-2006

Intervencion del profesor emerito de El Colegio de Mexico en el Seminario Interactivo sobre el Plan Nacional de Desarrollo, 2001-2006 (26 de junio de 2001).

El Colegio de México y la política de población en México

Palabras del profesor emerito de El Colegio de Mexico en la ceremonia conmemorativa de los 25 anos de la creacion del Consejo Nacional de Poblacion, celebrada el 25 de marzo de 1999 en la Secretaria de Gobernacion.

Presentación del Atlas de Monterrey, coordinado por Gustavo Garza Villarreal

El Atlas de Monterrey, a cargo del doctor Gustavo Garza Villarreal y un grupo importante de colaboradores, publicado recientemente por el Instituto de Estudios Urbanos de Nuevo Leon, con la colaboracion del Gobierno del Estado de Nuevo Leon, la Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon y El Colegio de Mexico, constituye un documento de gran valor para la planeacion urbana de esa gran ciudad mexicana y como ejemplo del tipo de estudios que seria necesario para tal fin en cualquier centro urbano importante del pais que piense en su futuro. Los auspiciadores y los autores merecen, en consecuencia, una calurosa felicitacion por la realizacion de este trabajo y por ponerlo a la disposicion del publico en tan corto tiempo.

Structural Change and Monetary Policy in Latin America — Possible Lessons for Other Developing Countries

The purpose of this paper is to explore the significance and orientation of monetary policy in developing countries in the present day context, by trying to draw some lessons from the Latin American experience. This is really a very broad subject and it involves a number of basic assumptions, just as it also has to take into account a typology of developing countries. Not only do economic structures in developing countries differ, but the institutions through which development policy and the many specific aspects of monetary and financial policy are carried out also vary. Some countries, in Latin America and Asia, have had a long tradition of monetary and banking institutions and a considerable experience in the development and implementation of monetary policy. Others have only recently evolved from the rather simple mechanisms by which monetary control was to some extent managed in the pre-independence period, for instance, in many African and several smaller Asian economies. Central banks also differ in their nature and functions, and it is not easy to draw general conclusions as to their role in economic development.

Latin America's prospects and alternatives vis‐a‐vis world problems

The present condition of Latin America is analyzed in terms of three dimensions: culture (social values and orientations), civilization (social organization and production), and participation (political affairs). In the context of the First and Second Worlds, the singularity of Latin America is described. The authors specify the problems and possibilities for Latin Americas charting its own course into the future.

La expansión de la educación técnica en México desde 1970 : una apreciación preliminar

Entre los paises en via de desarrollo, Mexico ha podido sostener una tasa de crecimiento bastante alta, constate, por un periodo de tiempo mas largo que la mayoria de otras naciones. Como pudiera esperarse, el desarrollo mexicano a lo largo de los ultimos treinta anos ha requerido insumos crecientes de mano de obra calificada y semi calificada, en particular en la medida en que la componente industrial del PIB se ha vuelto considerablemente mas grande. Si bien, al igual que en otros paises en desarrollo, la mayoria de las habilidades industriales son adquiridas en el trabajo mismo, el fuerte enfasis en la educacion – un elemento principal del programa politico mexicano desde la Revolucion de 1910-1917- ha contribuido indudablemente a la formacion de tales habilidades a traves de la ensenanza primaria y secundaria, el crecimiento de la ensenanza tecnica y el apoyo prestado a la expansion del sistema universitario nacional. El suministro de educacion gratuita en todos esos niveles por parte del Estado ha asegurado el acceso al sistema educativo de todos los sectores de la poblacion en edad escolar.

Population and Development in Latin America.

This work describes recent trends in population and economic and social development in Latin America. The 1st of 3 sections presents a synthesis of the most outstanding aspects of demographic evolution in the region as well as some aspects of social and economic development which are considered equally significant to analysis of demographic changes. The process of population growth, changes in the age structure, results of present population projections, the principle characteristics and trends in spatial distribution including changes in patterns of urbanization and urban concentration, and the most important characteristics of social and economic development that are considered relevant for interpretation of demographic trends are summarized. Section 2 assesses factors that determine demographic change. Economic, social, and cultural factors influencing fertility and mortality, and the necessity of developing an integrated focus for explaining changes in these variables are considered. The contributions and limitations of studies describing changes in fertility and mortality in relation to certain socioeconomic indicators are examined, and the need for research aimed at permitting explanation of these changes is stressed. Some conclusions regarding the formulation of policies for modifying the components of population growth are suggested. The final section makes several observations concerning the consequences of demographic change for the labor force and the implications of urban-metropolitan concentration, migration and employment in the large cities, the organization of urban space and the relationship between urban size, environmental deterioration, and the costs of urbanization.