Brookings Economic and Social Policy in Latin America Initiative Media Mentions

[Trump] will bring uncertainty to what today is the most militarily and economically important country in the world. The risk of economic paralysis [and] the potential for damage is immense, especially for emerging countries and Latin America, which is close by.

En los diez años del auge económico, los políticos se atribuyeron todo el mérito y vendieron la ilusión de que el futuro iba a ser luminoso. De alguna manera las personas sienten que se les secuestró el futuro y eso tiene un gran costo político.

Brazil doesn’t have a fundamental economic problem. It has as a credibility problem that can be solved relatively quickly if you have a government able and willing to do the right thing and the international community is able and willing to support Brazil.

Following the 1998 economic crisis in Russia, which had depressing effects across the developed world, Latin America passed from having two thirds center/right governments, to two thirds center/left, but some of it, radical left. What we are seeing is the reverse, albeit in a more moderate fashion.

A pre-emptive IMF package to cover Brazil's borrowing needs for two years could be enough to nip this crisis in the bud and set off a virtuous circle, bending down the debt trajectory and heading off default.

A pre-emptive IMF package to cover Brazil's borrowing needs for two years could be enough to nip this crisis in the bud and set off a virtuous circle, bending down the debt trajectory and heading off default.

The contagion effect is a serious problem as a crisis in Brazil will eventually raise the risk premium of all countries in the region.

Unfortunately, the stigma [of the IMF from] the past is very much present, and countries that would be well advised to use the fund, like Brazil, probably are not doing it.

Brazil is in a trap: if they raise interest rates further, it will raise interest costs on the national debt; but if they don’t, they will lose control over inflation.

Unfortunately Dilma Rousseff's fall in popularity together with the Petrobras scandal have paralyzed the government.