Study reveals Latin American business concerns

Study reveals Latin American business concerns Small and medium-sized businesses in Latin America are concerned about workaday issues like equipment and infrastructure, but macroeconomic issues like the environment, education, and reducing poverty are seen as the region's most dire problems.
   That was the assessment from the latest study by the UPS Business Monitor Latin America of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) conducted. The study, conducted for UPS by the marketing insight firm TNS Gallup, showed that 55 percent of the respondents cited equipment and infrastructure as their top concern for the next 12 months. That was followed by marketing activities, at 36 percent, and information technology, at 32 percent.
   A World Bank study put the infrastructure concerns in context. In Latin America, 55 percent of private businesses cited infrastructure as a serious problem, compared with only 18 percent in East Asia.
   The smaller businesses, meanwhile, worry that big picture issues like the environment, education, and poverty may prevent the region from being competitive on a global scale.
   Slightly more than half the SME executives surveyed said they want to see environmental laws strengthened. The greatest level of concern was in Mexico, where 55 percent said tougher environmental laws are needed.
   Education was the second largest macroeconomic issue. Over half of the SME cited education levels as a problem. That concern was greatest in the Dominican Republic, where 64 percent of the respondents said education is a concern.
   Poverty was listed as the third-largest problem, with 39 percent indicating that was a concern.