Twenty-eighth session. Mexico City, 3-7 April 2000 This document examines the characteristics and perspectives of the young people of Latin America and the Caribbean, focusing on how their situation relates to population issues and development. The central question around which the paper is organized is the extent to which the current characteristics and situation of the region's youth allow the deployment of their potential contribution to the production and reproduction of a society oriented towards balanced economic, social and political development, that is, development that promotes economic growth together with social integration based on equity and democracy. To address this issue, the analysis first describes that potential contribution and then focuses on the barriers and problems that impede its realization. Note: This working document was prepared by the Latin American and Caribbean Demographic Centre (CELADE) - Population Division of ECLAC pursuant to the Commission's resolution 572(XXVII) with financing from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Its content corresponds to the summary and conclusions of the reference document bearing the same title (LC/L.1339).