Latin America has been surprisingly spared from a generalized wave of corporate governance scandals. One possible explanation is that the region's level of investor protection is adequate. The evidence from the papers in this book says otherwise. The still relatively low level of protection and transparency has created an environment where problems cannot be easily detected or are not worth pursuing. These circumstances have started to push firms thirsty for capital to unilaterally opt for better corporate governance and alleviate this disadvantage. The papers in this book constitute the largest firm-level corporate governance analysis undertaken across Latin American countries. The new datasets in the book allow the researchers to conclude that companies with better self-imposed firm-level governance practices or with listing in U.S. markets are given higher valuations and can raise capital at a lower cost. Although these results are encouraging, they point to a rocky path for the future growth of local Latin American capital markets.

'Investor Protection and Corporate Governance' analyzes the impact of corporate governance on firm performance and valuation. Using unique datasets gathered at the firm-level the first such data in the region and results from a homogeneous corporate governance questionnaire, the book examines corporate governance characteristics, ownership structures, dividend policies, and performance measures. The book's analysis reveals the very high levels of ownership and voting rights concentrations and monolithic governance structures in the largest samples of Latin American companies up to now, and new data emphasize the importance of specific characteristics of the investor protection regimes in several Latin American countries. By and large, those firms with better governance measures across several dimensions are granted higher valuations and thus lower cost of capital. This title will be useful to researchers, policy makers, government officials, and other professionals involved in corporate governance, economic policy, and business finance, law, and management."

"Privatization in Latin America" represents the first systemic economic analysis of the efficiency and distributive effect of privatization in Latin America. Examining the privatization experience of six Latin American countries--Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, and Colombia--"Privatization in Latin America" evaluates the empirical evidence on privatization and assesses the validity of the criticisms raised. It shows that privatization can lead to increased profitability and productivity, firm restructuring, fiscal benefits, output growth, and even quality improvements. "Privatization in Latin America" is destined to become a must-have reference for researchers interested in privatization or the economic aspects of social policy reforms.

Privatization in Latin America represents the first systemic economic analysis of the efficiency and distributive effect of privatization in Latin America. Examining the privatization experience of six Latin American countries--Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, and Colombia--Privatization in Latin America evaluates the empirical evidence on privatization and assesses the validity of the criticisms raised. It shows that privatization can lead to increased profitability and productivity, firm restructuring, fiscal benefits, output growth, and even quality improvements. Privatization in Latin America is destined to become a must-have reference for researchers interested in privatization or the economic aspects of social policy reforms.

The papers in this book constitute the largest firm-level corporate governance analysis undertaken across Latin American countries. The new datasets in the book allow the researchers to conclude that companies with better self-imposed firm-level governance practices or with listings in U.S. markets are given higher valuations and can raise capital at a lower cost.