LATIN AMERICA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00662R000300040010-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 28, 1998
• Sequence Number: 10
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Rea 000/08/~tX f4R
LATIN AMERICA
We have encountered no unusual difficulties in securing
economic information from and about Latin America. The only
exception is Argentina. where the government has severely
curtailed publication and dissemination of statistical data..
Our weakness in the Latin American area stems from the
circumstance that Latin American statistical services are at
time faulty and are not as complete as they are in the United
'to or in Europe. Moreover, economic reporting has not
been attuned to the recuirements of intelligence research
(This k'lesa is, I understand, now being remedied).
We have on the whole been able to most intelligence
research requirements, although at times it has been necessary
to operate with somewhat less than up to date information,
Utilization of Latin American statistical data is at times
handicapped by shortage of aannower,
'erhaps the most notable gap in our intelligence poten-
tial is in the area of capabilities in terms of desirable and
attainable objectives of economic development in Latin America,
We do not know enough about the orientation of "economic
thinking" of those in Latin America who influence and direct
economic policies. This is a particularly important aspect
or the ,ruce^s of e$timating probable developments.
. e are reasonably well equi-?ped to deal with economic
trends and changes in Latin America as a whole. altho
Approved For Release 2000/08/27 : CIA-RDP75-00662R000300040010-7
 Approved For Release 2000/08/27 : CIA-RDP75-00662R000300040010-7
some respects and for some regions our information is not
very much more than an educated guess (national. income, rate
of accumulation of capital, etc.). But even these gaps are
being gradually filled out as a result of expansion of
improvement in the national and international st,,tistical
services.
Approved For Release 2000/08/27 : CIA-RDP75-00662R000300040010-7