All Entries in the "Opinion" Category
Einigkeit, Europe?
Alberto Bernal-Leon of Bulltick Capital Markets. What does the euro need to survive? It’s hard to believe, but nearly four years have passed since the outbreak of the worst global economic crisis since 1929. Many things have changed since that fateful September day when the U.S. Treasury committed the worst economic mistake in modern history: [...]
Calderon’s Mixed Legacy: Success or Failure?
When Felipe Calderon leaves Mexico’s presidency in December, he will leave behind a mixed legacy, as our special report shows. That might not seem impressive at first glance, but there’s a case to be made that it actually could represent a certain degree of accomplishment and success for Calderon. After all, he faced an unprecedented [...]
The Contrarian: Reforms the key to improve competitiveness in Mexico
The World Economic Forum’s annual competitiveness ranking is the global beauty pageant for competing nations. Mexico, the darling of emerging markets in the 1990s, had gradually slipped into the “ugly duckling” range of nations, ranking No. 66 by 2010. But Mexico got a bit of a face lift in September 2011, rising eight positions to [...]
Mexico: Opportunities Ahead
Mexico, together with other Latin American countries, has a unique opportunity to assume a position of leadership, growth and deve-lopment. These countries have assets that must be appropriately valued, particularly regarding European economies and other developed economies. These are: 1) solid macroeconomic factors; 2) healthy financial systems that were not severely affected by the crisis [...]
Calderon’s Economic Legacy
Research fellow at INEGI and former chief economist for Latin America and Mexico at HSBC Mexico. Vicente Fox’s economic legacy as president of Mexico was extremely mediocre, despite having consolidated the macroeconomic stability he inherited from Ernesto Zedillo. The average annual 2.1 percent growth over his six-year administration (the worst in Mexican history, with the [...]
Felipe Calderon’s Legacy on Security
Managing Director, FTI Consulting Mexico In a national context marked by growing violence in recent years and a high crime rate, the full-frontal effort of Mexico’s federal government to combat organized crime is noteworthy, as is its determination to reform security forces and improve the legal and operative capacity of the Mexican state to fight [...]
The Bottom Line: Investor Confidence
If you were to judge the future of Colombia from what you read on Twitter, you would have a gloomy vision of what is to come. Every day, without exception, many of us who try to play an advocacy role on this social network receive striking insults largely for presenting numbers-backed evidence about pragmatic global [...]
The Contrarian: Does Europe Matter Anymore?
How might Latin America fare in such a gloomy environment? Surprisingly well thanks to its own fiscal and monetary discipline and an historic pattern of declining European trade and investment links. Many Latin Americans are proud of their European heritage and go to great lengths to sustain their cultural links to the old continent. Fortunately [...]
Latin America’s Competitive Advantage
While Latin America in general lags behind the United States in competitiveness, it can actually boast a competitive advantage in certain areas. One such area is airline service and comfort. While some U.S. airlines flying Latin American routes typically offer poor service aboard old and run-down planes, Latin American airlines like Avianca, LAN, TAM and [...]
Colombian Star
While Brazil will continue to garner most of the foreign direct investment going to Latin America the next few years, many companies are increasingly looking at another market for strong growth and relatively big numbers: Colombia, the largest Latin American market by population outside of Brazil and Mexico.
Thank You, China!
Jose Antonio Rios, chairman of Global Crossing Latin America, is right on in pointing out that China helps Latin America more than it hurts it.
The Contrarian: Protectionism returns to South America
Once sheepish about protecting select industries, South American governments are growing bolder in
The Bottom Line: The three vertices of Latin America
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of sharing the lectern in Bogota with Dr. Augusto de la Torre, the World Bank’s chief economist for Latin America, at the Universidad de los Andes’ School of Government, which is led by Colombia’s former energy minister Carlos Caballero Argáez.
Recharge Latin America
While Latin America has reason to be proud of its economic growth in recent years, the region needs to implement a series of reforms to make it much more competitive.
The Contrarian: Bet on the Hare, not the Turtle
Why Latin America, not China, is the world’s most exciting market opportunity … in the short term.
The Bottom Line: Argentina: Securing the Future
Argentina’s economy has changed radically over the last nine years. According to official statistics, the economic growth since the end of the crisis in 2002 — from the year 2003 through 2010
Punto Clave: Y Si Se Nos Viene Una Crisis Igual A La Del 2008?
He argumentado muchas veces en columnas de opinión en Latin Trade y en otros diarios, al igual que en los documentos de investigación económica que le enviamos a nuestros clientes desde Bulltick Capital Markets, que los modelos estándar que los economistas usamos para predecir una recesión económica no muestran indicios de que estemos al borde [...]
The Education Challenge
Companies in Latin America had a great year in 2010, as the Latin 500 shows. Revenues were up 22 percent, while profits jumped 37 percent. However, with expanding demand and sales comes a new challenge — finding the right talent. From Brazil to Panama, companies are increasingly complaining about a deficit of skilled employees.
The Contrarian: The Cost of Living Dangerously
Addressing the Global Travel & Tourism Summit in Las Vegas in May of this year, Mexican President Calderon quipped: “I saw thousands of spring-breakers in Mexico having fun. My understanding is the only shots they received were tequila shots — a lot of them.”
The Bottom Line: Responsible Policies Do Pay in the Long Term
I think the “certificate of good conduct” bestowed by the ratings agency Moody’s on the Colombian economy was a year late, at least.
The Case for Free Trade
While the United States has been dillydallying on free trade with Latin America, the rest of the world has not. The European Union has caught up with the United States when it comes to Colombia, Peru and Central America, undermining the U.S. advantage with those areas
BRAVO Forum: Innovation vs. Invention: LatAm’s Quiet Success
Latin America is not commonly associated with innovation. But it should be. The deeply rooted concept that innovation equates only to new products might be part of the problem.
The Contrarian: Fear Not Despot Nor Devaluation But Do Fear Your Rival
Having proved its economic mettle in the aftermath of the financial crisis,
The Bottom Line: The Chilean Miracle
I don’t know why I recently recalled a documentary about Chilean society that I had seen many years ago on television. Perhaps it was the images of the tsunami in Japan, ones that I associated in my mind with the videos of the tsunami in Concepción from a year ago.
The Chilean Model
Nobel laureate Mario Vargas Llosa was right when he characterized Chile as a not-yet developed country, but one that is not a developing country either.
BRAVO Forum: The Silent Evolution
We live in a world in which emerging economies are the protagonists in the global transformation. According to statistical information the world’s population has increased by nearly 2.5 billion people over the last three decades. Over 90 percent of that growth has occurred in developing countries.
Latin America: The Real Deal
Everyone is talking about Latin America’s “new decade.” Discussions in economic forums, investors, multilateral banks and social development groups are focused on Latin America’s new star position — and with good reason. So far, we’ve seen only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Latin America’s new era of growth, prosperity, poverty reduction and opportunity. Here are just some of the many reasons why the buzz about Latin America isn’t just buzz but the real deal.
Latin America 2011: Fat, Happy & Uncompetitive
In 2011, every economy in Latin America will expand and the region will grow an impressive 4.5 percent, according to International Monetary Fund estimates. Latin America weathered the financial crisis with its banking system intact, a thriving democracy and a resilient, if not expanding, middle class. Brazil basks in the accolades of financial investors, attracting record investment into Latin America. So what is all the fuss about regional competitiveness? Does competitiveness matter when historical levels of wealth are being created in Latin America?
What will China bring to the Latin American decade?
As this edition of Latin Trade goes to press, Beijing authorities announced new rules allowing companies and financial institutions to move yuan offshore for investment. (The renminbi is the official name for China’s legal tender.) The easing of currency regulations, albeit on a trial basis, points to the expanding role of Chinese companies in mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures in Latin America. As a series of stories in this issue about the Chinese conquista shows, Chinese trade activity has turned into hyperactivity on the acquisition front as these companies, most of them state-run, seek operating control of projects that secure raw materials needed by a nation with a shortage of arable land, minerals and energy.
Currency Wars and “the Phantom Menace” Facing the Global Economy
After mounting an intervention of words, Brazil has taken concrete
