international oommunity to give real impetus to the necessary processes of integratioo that are required by the developinq countries. Furthermore, we must add that because of the neqative effects of the international economic situation and as a result of the severe adjustment measures, there has been an increase in a phenomenon known in Latin America as the "social debt". This refers to the qradual decline of budqets earmarked for education, health, housinq, well-beinq and the physical infrastructure. The proqrammes of structural adjustment imposed oo the developinq countries, far from reversinq the decline and staqnation of the economv and lavinq the foundations for a sustained development, have had a neqative effect, with particularly harmful repercussions on the workers,.farmers and other vulnerable majoritY sectors of the J.DP.Ilation. Wi! fully support the thesis that everv State and every nation is responsible for adoptinq its own economic pol icy for development and for the achievement of the well-beinq of all its citizens. We also fullY endorse the statement that any policy for the PJrpose of development should be based on equity and the distribution of wealth in order to include the whole population in that effort. But at the same time, we are aware that if the efforts of the developinq countries are to be successful -and this has been lonq recoqnized by this Orqaniza tion - profound chanqes in international economic relations will have to be made. This had already been universally accepted when, in 1974, the General AssemblY adopted the Declaration for the Establishment of the New International Economic Order and a Proqramme of Actioo to brinq about its imPlementation. The essence of the Problems envisaqed 16 years aqo has not chanqed. Some of those problems have qrown worse in a waY that was not foreseeable in those years of hoPe and apparent 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the economic situation of developing countries, the impact of structural adjustment programs, and the need for profound changes in international economic relations. It highlights the decline of public services such as education, health, and infrastructure, and the negative effects on vulnerable sectors of the population. The text also emphasizes the importance of adopting economic policies that prioritize equity and the distribution of wealth.

**Category**
Economic development, International trade, Employment, Education, Health