The economic history of Central America as a whole

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Central American integration
By Fundación Flor de Izote, in El Salvador in Perspective, July-August 1995. Competing theories of Central American [economic] Integration (CAI). Neoliberal shift of region's economies from industrial to service/finance/commecial sectors; CAI free trade zone in competition with NAFTA; issue of rural impoverishment.
How United Fruit robbed and killed the people of Central America
By Stephen Millies, Workers World, 3 October 1996. United Brands became the new name for the notorious United Fruit banana monopoly. Now it's got another new name: Chiquita Brands International. For decades this ruthless corporation dominated the economies of the countries of Central America.
The Wrong Hurricane Relief
By Stephen Hellinger, the New York Times, 7 December 1998. Officials of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank will meet decide the economic fate of Honduras and Nicaragua, both ravaged by Hurricane Mitch. If all goes according to script, the financial ‘rescue’ package that will emerge will only deepen the two nations' problems.
Donors Plan Central America's ‘Transformation’
By Abid Aslam, IPS, 24 May 1999. The Washington-based Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) holding talks on Central America's reconstruction and transformation following the devastation of Hurricane Mitch. There will be no change in the official vision of development as a means to integrate the countries into capitalist markets in goods, services, and finance. Closed sessions will exclude any demands for progressive reforms in land ownership, domestic credit, and wage policy.
Investment Rise Due to Privatisations
By Néfer Muñoz, IPS, 12 June 2000. Central America's improved record in attracting direct foreign investment is a mirage because the increased flow of capital to the region has mostly come through sales, mergers and privatisations of state-run enterprises, according to economic policy experts.
New Owners Sought for Telephone Companies
By Maricel Sequeira, IPS, 3 July 1998. El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala selling their telephone companies in an oversupplied market. Because of conditions imposed by the IMF and structural adjustment, the Nicaraguan legislature had to approve the privatisation of the most profitable companies of the public sector, the telephone, electricity and potable water companies, and one of the state banks.