Weekly Update: LAC

Bolivia – Fundación Milenio released its 145th economic analysis bulletin, entitled “Sovereign Decisions are Not Always the Most Convenient,” which discusses various statements by Latin American heads of state regarding the recent nationalization of Argentina’s major oil company, YPF. Milenio distributed the bulletin to 250 key journalists, as well as to more than 3,000 subscribers to Milenio’s electronic database. The report is available for download in Spanish on Milenio’s website.

Mexico – The Center of Research for Development (CIDAC) held its second online debate, this time on the topic of, “Pemex: Openness vs. Status Quo.” This debate explores the possibility of amending the law that currently prohibits Mexico’s state oil company, Pemex, from establishing contracts with private companies to explore, extract, and produce oil. The debate and its conclusions can be found on the Electoral Debate page, or on CIDAC’s Facebook page.

CIDAC also convened a group of 15 high-ranking authorities for the presentation of Mexico’s former Minister of Commerce and Finance, Jaime Serra Puche, to present the Economic Openness Index. At this meeting, participants discussed the reasons for Mexico’s low growth rates despite its openness to international trade. They concluded that enormous challenges, like competition and commercial openness in sectors like textiles, still remain. CIPE’s Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, John Zemko, senior officials from the U.S. Embassy in Mexico, high-ranking government officials, and advisors from the four presidential campaigns of Mexico attended this event.

Venezuela – The Center for the Dissemination of Economic Knowledge (CEDICE) held a roundtable for analysis entitled, “Venezuela without Freedom: High Inflation and Public Debt.” Through this roundtable, participants discussed and analyzed the Heritage Foundation’s 2012 Index of Economic Freedom, placing a special focus on Venezuela. Approximately 40 people attended this event, which was led by a panel of three highly regarded professors from universities throughout Venezuela.