MERCOSUL: Antecedents, Origin, and Recent Performance

Abstract:     
The article analyzes the main experiences of economic integration in Latin America, with prominence for the processes that created MERCOSUL. Initially, are discussed the historical antecedents and the proposals of CEPAL, and the development and performance of ALALC and ALADI. About the process of bilateral integration between Brazil and Argentina, in the 1980's years, is standing out the realization of intra-sectorial agreements as an innovative way of integration. The MERCOSUL is treated in the context of its constitution and first results, as a well happened political process, returning, however, to a more liberal integration pattern. Its economic performance until present is analyzed after, with prominence for the evolution and the macroeconomics difficulties, in their relationships with the integration. The paper also presents indicators, with positive and negative results, of MERCOSUL's performance. In the conclusion, the evolution and the perspectives of the latin-american economic integration are discussed, in a context of globalization and marginalization threat and of low regional economic performance, standing out the importance of the business community's and social participation to determine the direction of the new experiences.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 34

Keywords: Economic integration in Latin America, Mercosul

JEL Classification: F15

Accepted Paper Series