porto alegre Courtesy: wikimedia\commons
14 August 2014

Federalism, swaraj and Brazil

Brazil follows a more decentralised form of federalism and gives special importance to the municipalities. Porto Alegre’s successful 'participatory budgeting' is a role model for the world. India can learn from both the positive and negative aspects of the Brazilian system

VenProtests-2014 Courtesy: durdaneta/Wikimedia
8 August 2014

Latin America slowdown

Latin America’s economic growth has slowed down in 2014. But the region’s fundamentals are relatively strong, and have the resilience to absorb external shocks and increase growth in the coming years. However, Argentina and Venezuela face continuing uncertainty and deterioration.

Dilma_e_Lula_210x140 Courtesy: Government of Brazil/Wikimedia Commons
15 May 2014

Brazil: time to be a global power?

Brazil’s advantages – including resources of oil and gas, no historical baggage, an absence of terrorism and military conflicts – and regional leadership, make it a potential global power. But it also has to tackle many challenges in the medium-term, such as poverty, poor infrastructure, healthcare and education

leftlatam Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
8 April 2014

The Left surge in Latin America

Latin America continues to turn to the Left. Michelle Bachelet became president of Chile in March and has promised fiscal reform; Salvador Sanchez Ceren took over as president of El Salvador in June and will tackle inequality; and in Costa Rica too, the centre-left Luis Guillermo Solis assumed power

Arg_Pesos_2014 Courtesy: alex proimos/Wikimedia Commons
13 March 2014

Going downhill: Argentine economy

With a devaluing peso, a low trade surplus, high inflation, and falling foreign exchange reserves, the economic situation in Argentina is bleak. But the government can overcome the crisis by changing policies, lessening controls, exploring the country’s shale gas reserves, and working on settling its debt

VenProtests 2014 Courtesy: durdaneta/Wikimedia Commons
13 March 2014

Tough times for Venezuela

On the political as well as economic fronts, Venezuela is facing multiple problems – from protests against shortages and crime, to high inflation and low foreign exchange reserves. The government itself is responsible for creating this situation over the years and a change in leadership may now be the solution