The countries of Central America are discussing integration like the European Union. Do you think thet DR should join them? Why or why not? Personally I believe DR should. I mean it's part of CAFTA (DR-CAFTA) so why not go all the way?

I think Integration between Latin American countries is a great step for consolidating the abundant resources available in LA. We share so many similarities that would be a great asset pull all those countries together and develop a union with one currency, an economical and social framework that all countries would abide by. I think it will happen in the near future. I know there are some
challenges that LA countries face in order to make a union a reality such as pride, corruption and mismanagement of resources but I honestly think it's inevitable. I would recommend developing such union with Brazil, Argentina, Chile, which are strong pillars in LA and working its way up to Central America and the Caribbean.

What do the economist on this forum say about the feasibility of such union? I'm curious to find out what FranktheTank, CarlosFranco, Dreadlocks, and Dagtan think among others.

In my opinion, the DR should adress some important competitive issues before joining this union, such as electricity costs, lack of adequate property laws and the monopoly of transportation held by the "country's owners". On the first issue, if everyone haven't noticed yet, the DR is the country with the highest electricity costs on the entire continent, which put us on a huge disadvantage in comparison with our Central American neighbours, which have highly efficient electricity systems (specially Costa Rica). On the laws issue, it's imperative to create an institution that would really take seriously the task of keeping track of the countries' land tenure, in other words, the business of issuing conterfeit land titles by some buscones must be terminated inmediately, that is, if we don't want to suffer the embarrassment of having our eventual trade partners demanding reparations from us to the World Trade Organization. Of the transportation problems I don't need to remind you of, because, as all of you should be acquainted by now (and annoyed therefore) by the monopoly held by the syndicates on this issue.

DR should join the Union of South America instead (2017)... Central America is poor and weak... We need venezuelan oil, Brazilian Airplanes, and plus it is a giant market.... Though i would disagree if it puts the island at odds with the US. We must maintain some degree of indepedence.

Carlos Franco

I'm not sure of the value of joining such a federation; our own house has not been set straight, and surely union with other small, impoverished republics will only broaden the scope of problems while not solving anything. Joining a South American union has more merit, but also presents issues; culturally, politically, and economically the DR is more oriented towards the US. So we are more like Puerto Rico and the Cuba-to-be than South America. If DR joins any federation it should be with them.

Any official connection with a lunatic like Chaves will bring way more harm than good !

Well, Chaves is not going to be there forever. As was evident in the last elections in Venezuela. That's pretty much a moot point.

I think South American Union is in the best interest of the Republic. Central America was once a single country and they all went their separate ways. There is a history of distrust and bitter rivalries there. I'm not too sure that it's completely behind them. Besides, look at the economies of all the Central American and Caribbean nations...they would effectively be competing with each other on the world market. That's a recipe for disaster. How would farmers in D.R. feel having quotas on exports to accomodate farmers from Central America?

It's not in our best interests.