Canning Papers

The future of Latin America will be forged in its cities. It is within the region’s urban areas that the push and pull of social, economic, and demographic forces will play out most intensely over the next few decades.

No one disputes the fact that Odebrecht, one of the largest and most successful civil engineering groups in Brazil and Latin America, has paid bribes, or that it has done so on a massive scale. The disagreements now are about matters of detail, although the details themselves are critically important, including questions as to the number of politicians and other officials implicated. Also up for discussion is the much wider question of corporate governance and regulation, critically, the question as to what should be done to prevent other large companies from indulging in similar practices in future

The inauguration of Donald Trump as US president in January 2017 has presented important challenges for the relationship between the US and Latin America. Since the 1990s, this relationship has been largely based on the deepening of economic ties and the promotion of more cordial diplomatic relations; as well as a reduction of US interventionism in the region.

Renewable energy is on the rise in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). there is a palpable surge of excitement, interest – and investment – in a range of renewable technologies including wind, solar and biodiesel, complementing the already-important role being played by hydroelectric energy. While the region remains dependent on fossil fuel-based energy such as oil, gas and coal, various indicators suggest that a tipping point towards a more accelerated take-up of renewables may not be far off. Significantly, the region may be on the verge of an ‘electricity revolution’ that will have far-reaching implications and effects, both creative and disruptive. In this paper, we spell out the possible shape and implications of such a revolution. to start, we map out the current regional energy landscape and then identify some of the trends that foreshadow the dynamic role that renewables can play in the coming ‘Energy revolution’.

Historians will argue over Fidel Castro’s economic legacy for many years to come, and an objective assessment is not possible in this brief paper. So here we limit the discussion to a broad survey of the nature of the economy that Fidel Castro left behind, outlining some of its strengths and weaknesses.

This paper examines the current state of play in Venezuela, starting with an overview of the economy, the political situation and current societal issues, with the input of freelance analyst Kate Parker and Francisco Toro of Caracas Chronicles. It then examines potential scenarios and their implications for the economy and the business operating environment. A near-term improvement in the internal situation is not considered likely. The authors anticipate authoritarian consolidation this year, ahead of a heavily-managed presidential election in late 2018, and little change in economic policy. Absent reform, the economy will remain in a critical condition, but with oil prices sufficiently stable to avert a complete collapse.