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Latin America Politics

Santos’ latest political heuristics may pay off for Colombia

President Juan Manuel Santos has made clever moves in the Colombian political debate, introducing a new element that may shift the discussion in his favor. Since the peace negotiations between

Latin America Politics

Amid scandal and recession, Brazil seeks austerity

The Petrobas corruption probe is severely undermining Brazil President Dilma Rousseff’s administration and fueling market distrust. Sinking deeper into recession, Rousseff has released a $17 billion austerity plan aimed at reliving financial

Latin America Politics

Bolivia’s President Evo Morales eyeing fourth term

After winning the 2014 elections by a landslide and maintaining his two-thirds majority in the lower and upper houses of the Assembly, Bolivian President Evo Morales now has both the

Latin America Politics

Guatemala holds its politicians accountable, offering lessons for Latin America

The recent resignation and indictment of Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina demonstrate the potential of international investigative and prosecutorial commissions in holding national institutions and politicians accountable. Political corruption in the Latin

Latin America Politics

The Venezuela-Colombia border crisis heats up

As Venezuela confronts significant economic problems ahead of elections in December, President Maduro has tried to divert attention by creating a conflict with neighboring Colombia. As a result, economic and political

Latin America Politics

Will the La Linea corruption scandal break or make Guatemala?

Otto Pérez Molina resigned from the Guatemalan presidency on Wednesday, September 2, after the attorney general issued a warrant for his arrest amid corruption allegations and public unrest. On September 1,

Finance Latin America

South America joins the global currency war

Amid continued low commodity prices, a slow down in demand from Asian economies, and the Chinese devaluation of the Yuan, South America looks poised to jump into the global currency

Latin America Politics

America’s ballooning student debt: Lessons learned from Chile

Public discontent over for-profit university financing schemes in the United States could present serious sociopolitical and economic challenges. The 2011 student protests in Chile serve as a sobering example of

Finance Latin America

Ecuador oil deal seeks to diversify finances

Ecuador’s state oil company, Petroecuador, recently signed a crude oil supply agreement with Thailand’s state-run PTT, in which the country will receive a $2.5 billion payment. Low oil prices have hit

Latin America Natural resources and energy

Andean investors wary due to lack of standards

Across the Andean region, foreign companies interested in natural resource extraction are clashing with indigenous communities. The main problem is inadequate government legislation concerning appropriate consultation processes; which, in turn,