Posts From Daniel Lemaitre

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Asia Pacific Politics

“The Interview” shows the value of political risk analysis

The latest Hollywood film by Sony Pictures generated a small fraction of the forecasted box office revenue because of disruptions and threats by the North Korean government. This example demonstrates

Latin America Politics

Latin America sees second leftist wave

In 2014, there were presidential elections in El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia, and Uruguay, with right-of-center and pro-business parties losing every contest. In December 2013, GRI noted

Economics Latin America

Tax cuts will not save Peru’s mining sector from falling prices

Recently proposed tax cuts demonstrate the Peruvian government’s attempt to deal with slower growth and stagnating foreign investment. Regardless, if mineral prices continue to fall, investment in extractive industries will not maintain the

Latin America Politics

Brazil elections: Why the left has already won

Whoever wins the Brazilian presidential elections will have to accommodate a powerful legislature dominated by left of center parties, opposed to macroeconomic adjustment and proposals to attract foreign investment. Although the

Economics Latin America

Pacific Alliance countries primed for infrastructure investment

Latin American markets present opportunities for multinational corporations in the construction industry. The countries that are most likely to invest in infrastructure are the Pacific Alliance countries since they are

Latin America Politics

Government shakeup won’t improve Venezuela’s investment climate

The reshuffling of Venezuela’s executive branch was meant to boost President Maduro’s popularity and increase confidence in the United Socialist Party’s economic policies. However, the reshuffle does not incorporate impartial and moderate

Finance Latin America

Latin America still low on ‘Ease of Doing Business’ scale

The ‘Ease of Doing Business’ ranking has improved for Latin American countries since 2005, but important regulatory areas such as tax law, contract enforcement, and commercial lending need to be overhauled

Economics Latin America

Colombia risks being caught in middle-income trap

Colombia is becoming a popular Latin American investment market. But if Bogotá wants to grow beyond the middle-income range and become a long term-investment destination, the government will have to emphasize better governance

Latin America Politics

GRI Series on Brazil: Elections precede economic reform

In Brazil, economic adjustment will have to come from within the ruling party after the October elections. Complex political coalitions and a shared national social policy agenda have created a

Economics Latin America

Armed conflict, stalled bureaucracy limit Colombia’s economic growth

Global Risk Insights has reported that the largest problem for Venezuela’s PDVSA and Mexico’s Pemex is falling oil production. Now, another South American country, Colombia, has also reported a decrease in oil