The Economic Survey of Latin America and the Caribbean 2013 analyses the policies required to improve the perspectives of sustainable regional growth. It reviews the links between economic growth, investment and employment, as well as the fiscal and monetary policies, industrial, trade and social policies relevant for short and long-term growth. Special attention is given to regional key issues such as its structural heterogeneity, its high levels of inequality and the challenges of environmental sustainability. Additionally, the region's economic evolution during the first semester of 2013 is analysed in this survey.