A fierce debate rages over whether globalization reduces or increases poverty and inequality. The evidence doesn't always provide comfortable answers for either side. Read the full article in the Spring 2008 issue of Americas Quarterly.
Southern Cone & Brazil
Ignacio Labaqui reviews Dante Avaro's assessment of income inequality in Latin America and his proposed policy that reduces such inequality without compromising economic growth.
100,000 Bolivians, many of them undocumented immigrants, live and work in São Paulo, re-creating a Bolivian community in the midst of Brazil's industrial capital. Read the full article in the Spring 2008 issue of Americas Quarterly.
The first step in designing effective programs to reduce poverty in the region is to figure out the real numbers. Unfortunately, that's harder than it looks, writes Sanjay G. Reddy. Read the full article in the Spring 2008 issue of Americas Quarterly.
With a new leader in Argentina and Venezuela’s Mercosur membership hanging like a question mark, South American presidents gathered in Montevideo December 18. The summit comes as the organization signs a trade pact with
In the Southern Cone and Antarctica, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon called climate change "an emergency." But controversy continues over UN statements about biofuels as a threat to food production. A Viewpoints Americas article urges solutions to promote agricultural sustainability.
COA Vice President Eric Farnsworth writes that Iran's deepening ties with some Latin American nations could have destabilizing consequences. But he emphasizes that Iran's foray into the Americas serves as an opportunity for nations of the Western Hemisphere to work together in support of democratic principles.