Download or read book Preliminary Overview of the Economies of Latin America and the Caribbean 2016 written by United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean and published by United Nations. This book was released on 2017-03-02 with total page 122 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This publication highlights a regional slowdown in GDP growth. It argues that the currency depreciation seen in several countries in the region could, if sustained, increase incentives for investment in tradeable sectors other than the region’s traditional exports (commodities), while redirecting expenditure to ease pressure on the current account. Growth-supporting industrial, trade, environmental, social and labour policies that take into account the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises, could help lessen the region’s structural heterogeneity. Growth combined with greater equality would thus gain economic and social sustainability, with greater reliance from investment and exports than before. It is argued that this combination would be aided by social covenants for investment.