This course will examine competing explanations of several of the persistent problems of Latin-American economic development and the role and limits of both the state and markets in addressing these problems. Topics to be discussed include the colonial legacy, agrarian organization and land reform, the informal urban economy, import substitution industrialization, populist and revolutionary experiments and reactions against them, debt and currency crises, the design and consequences of macro stabilization and structural adjustment programs, and recent experiences with state reform, decentralization, and targeted poverty alleviation programs. Format: lecture/discussion. Requirements: short papers, term paper, and final exam. Prerequisite: Economics 110. Enrollment limit: 40.