The Reagan Administration has proposed legislation which would seek to use trade and aid to promote political stability and economic growth in the Caribbean Basin region. Among other things, it would create a one-way free trade zone, where the small nations of the region would have an opportunity for export-led growth through duty-free access to the U.S. market. It would also provide $350 million in economic aid for 1982 to El Salvador and other Caribbean countries.

On Jan. 1, 1981 the Soviet Union's Eleventh Five Year Plan (1981-85) began. An analysis of the new plan provides some insights into Soviet priorities and economic prospects for the next half-decade. The following are the plan's main goals: to allocate sufficient investment funds to ensure adequate growth of output in the industry, agriculture, transportation, energy, and other sectors; to raise consumer income sufficiently to provide needed incentives and increase consumer satisfaction; to meet security needs at home and abroad; and to import technology, grain and other goods needed to meet priority domestic goals.

This report is on Universal Social Security Coverage: Extending Mandatory Coverage.