I would be most grateful for specific information about neo-liberal policies and their effects in El Salvador. Background: A group of people from the Episcopal Diocese of Central New York recently went to visit their companion diocese, the Diocese of El Salvador. During the trip, El Salvadoran campesinos and campesinas asked their mostly college educated visitors how they felt about US support for the neo-liberal economic policies that they felt were very harmful to them. The North Americans were apparently humiliated because they didn't have an answer. The little information they did have came from the few of them that had read in the Wall Street Journal that the El Salvadoran economy was doing splendidly. Now that they're back, the North Americans want to educate themselves. The priest leading the delegation asked me to help, not because I am a specialist with knowledge about El Salvador, but rather because I am the only economist she knows, or at least the only one who roughly shares her political sympathies. She has in mind a seminar perhaps leading to an ongoing discussion if there is sufficient interest. I can explain to them about how capitalism works (which I assume is the basic problem), but I would be most grateful for specific suggestions regarding information about recent economic trends in El Salvador. What would be most useful are readings that would be short and simple that I could give the 'students' to read, or more lengthy and complicated stuff that I might use to educate myself. Please respond off-list. If there seems to be some general interest, I will post a summary of responses to the list. Thanks in advance. David Andrews [EMAIL PROTECTED]
