The Latin American inner city: differences of degree or of kind?

Inner-city areas of Latin America are examined and compared with similar urban areas in the United Kingdom and the United States. Significant differences are noted in that "the demography [of Latin American inner cities] is different, with relatively low levels of visible population decline; and the economy of the inner city remains vibrant, focusing upon services and small-scale artisan activities, with no corresponding decline in heavy industry. Although large-scale redevelopment projects in and around the downtown were common during the 1940s to the 1960s, the demise of authoritarian and dirigiste-type leaders, 1980s austerity, and a growing democratic base, have imposed severe limitations on the extent of large-scale urban redevelopment and reinvestment."