A Tough Act To Follow

Brazil’s captivating president has nine months, as of this writing, before he departs the Planalto Palace. But historians in a hurry — journalists — have started to examine his legacy even though Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is not expected to ride off into obscurity. The extraordinarily charismatic politician is likely to have a second or third act on the public stage. But what important changes has he wrought in Latin America’s biggest country?

Latin Trade turned to Thierry Ogier, a veteran correspondent in São Paulo, to assess the Lula effect. Ogier examined the numerous accomplishments of the Lula years —from the powerhouse economy to the broader profile globally — and took a close look at unfinished business. The nation will face unprecedented international scrutiny when it hosts both the 2014 World Soccer Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. But beyond such high-profile events, the success of the next president of Brazil will ultimately depend on whether the institutional overhaul implemented by Lula is sustained — and whether those institutions, and the country itself, continue to evolve.

Almost two years into what has been dubbed the Great Recession, recovery has yet to take hold firmly in many national economies, while the culture and operations of many global economic institutions are intact. That’s not the case in the world of business administration education, where the crisis has sparked renewed debate over how business schools can impart the knowledge and skills that corporate and financial leaders need to evaluate risk effectively and to operate ethically. According to our story on MBA programs, school administrators and professors are using the crisis as the jumping-off point to update the course of study for regular and executive MBA students.

Our readers are in the driver’s seat of our annual special report on travel in Latin America and the Caribbean. We present the best airports, airlines, hotels, restaurants and other aspects of travel, as determined by readers’ votes. We offer an overview of rules and regulations as well as tips for using the region’s major airports, featuring insights from our correspondents who regularly fly in and out of these important hubs.

We also want your input for the 2010 BRAVO Business Awards. Nominations are accepted until April 30. Visit www.latintrade.com to let us know which leaders, CEOs and social activists you think should be recognized for excellence and achievement in their respective fields.

Jane Bussey

Editorial Director