Ecuador: An Economic and Social Agenda in the New Millennium

Resumen

The book focuses on three overarching
\n themes: fiscal consolidation and growth; social development;
\n and, quality of government, and, documents Ecuador's
\n development trends, policies, and options. The fundamental
\n challenges facing the country are identified within this
\n book, and the solutions represent a break with the past:
\n this is a proposal for an agenda with a broad, and
\n integrated vision of economic, and social development in
\n Ecuador. As a central message, the book outlines that
\n although economic growth is a necessary condition to combat
\n poverty, it would however be insufficient, unless growth is
\n sustainable, and participatory, i.e., that broad sectors of
\n the most vulnerable population (such as marginalized
\n indigenous populations) are included. Thus, the argument for
\n preserving stability with fiscal discipline, and
\n accelerating growth with competitiveness, is based on a
\n guaranteed balanced macroeconomic framework, that promotes
\n economic expansion and competitiveness by making input
\n markets - particularly the labor market - more flexible, by
\n opening the economy to foreign trade, and eliminating trade
\n policies. Expansion of the petroleum sector should be
\n accelerated through legal and regulatory changes to prod
\n fiscal stability, and promote private investments. Boosting
\n sustainable, and equitable social development can be ensured
\n by the government through actions focused on human capital
\n development, improved quality of education and health
\n services, and efficient social safety network. And in
\n building a quality government that serves its people, and
\n fights against corruption, the book stipulates regulatory
\n reforms, and provision of direct services, within a strategy
\n complemented with strengthened civil service, and deepening
\n of the judicial reform, in the general context of decentralization.