Foreword This publication corresponds to the first chapter of the Economic Survey of Latin America and the Caribbean, 2000-2001, and is being published simultaneously in Spanish and English. It provides an assessment of the region's economic performance during the first half of 2001 and of its prospects for the remainder of the year. An analysis is presented of the main aspects of the regional economy -its external sector, macroeconomic policy, levels of economic activity, inflation, employment, saving and investment- together with a statistical appendix containing 14 tables with data series through 2000. Wide distribution of this document, which provides information on economic trends in the region during the first half of the year within the context of the previous year's performance, is intended to serve the purpose previously performed by the Economic Panorama of Latin America, a publication that was issued in September of each year between 1985 and 1996. The full edition of the Survey is to be published in Spanish in August and in English in September. It will be accompanied by a CD-ROM containing tables on the individual countries and the region as a whole.