Category: Americas

Americas, Business and Technology, Latin America

Havaianas: A Symbol of Brazilian National Identity

Havaianas is a Brazilian flip-flop brand, owned by Alpargatas S.A. – a Brazilian textiles manufacturer. As most people will know, Havaianas manufacture the world’s most popular rubber soled sandal, which has been worn from sandy beaches to fashion show runways. What is particularly fascinating about Havaianas is the extent to which it embodies Brazilian national identity and a more carefree way of life that is … Continue reading Havaianas: A Symbol of Brazilian National Identity

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Americas, Business and Technology, Latin America

Peru’s Invisible Workforce

Across the streets of Lima, informal vendors, unregistered taxi drivers and cash-based micro-businesses form a familiar part of everyday life. Their presence illustrates a wider pattern: 68-72% of Peru’s labour force operates outside the formal economy. The informal economy can be defined as a set of economic activities carried out by workers and productive units that do not comply with the regulations established by the … Continue reading Peru’s Invisible Workforce

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Americas, Economics, Latin America

The Economy of Brazil

“Promise and Paradox: Understanding Brazil’s Economic Highs and Lows”  In 2011, Brazil was the world’s sixth-largest economy, surpassing the United Kingdom. Barely five years later, the country plunged into its worst recession in over a century, losing more than 7% of its GDP between 2015 and 2016. This stark contrast perfectly encapsulates the nature of Brazil’s economy: one with the potential to thrive through its … Continue reading The Economy of Brazil

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Americas, International, Latin America

Venezuela’s Economy

In recent years, Venezuela’s economy and living standards have taken a turn for the worse. It has faced record numbers of inflation, intense poverty and disparities of wealth, as well as plenty of corruption and protests. This may come as a surprise; Venezuela sits on the largest oil reserve in the world and has a plethora of rare ores such as gold and silver. How … Continue reading Venezuela’s Economy

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Americas, Economics, Sport

The Economics of MLB

Introduction:  Throughout the late 20th century and the early 21st century, we have experienced the rapid commercialization of sports. A striking example was the recent IPL auction, where Rishabh Pant was sold to the Lucknow Super Giants for 27 crore ($3,122,490.09). Baseball has seen a similar financial boom, which can be attributed to its rapid increase in net worth. The Major League Baseball (MLB), founded in … Continue reading The Economics of MLB

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Americas, History, Latin America, Politics

Militias and the Brazilian Economy

Since the founding of Brazil and its secession from Portugal in 1822 and especially after establishement of the republic in 1889, various groups have operated paramilitary organisations in Rio De Janeiro, known today as militias. To some, these groups are vigilante heroes, ordinary men who choose to stand against the terror of Brazil’s drug gangs and provide the security that Rio’s municipal government fails to … Continue reading Militias and the Brazilian Economy

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Americas, Economics, Politics, US

Trumponomics

Since Donald Trump’s return to the presidency in January 2025, “Trumponomics” has redefined U.S. economic policy through a lens of protectionism and economic nationalism. Central to this strategy are aggressive tariffs, including a universal 10% tariff on all imports, effective April 5, 2025, and targeted rates as high as 245% on Chinese goods. By May 2025, these measures have catalysed a seismic shift in global … Continue reading Trumponomics

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Americas, International, Politics

Trump’s Tariffs: Short Term Protection or Long Term Economic Risk?

Note: This article was written in March/April 2025, when the initial set of tariffs had been proposed.   Trump’s Tariffs: Short-Term Protection or Long-Term Economic Risk?  Introduction  On November 5th, 2024, Donald Trump was re-elected as President of the United States, triggering wide-spread impacts for the global economy. Almost immediately, he resumed his previous trade war with China and launched new tariff-based confrontations on Canada and … Continue reading Trump’s Tariffs: Short Term Protection or Long Term Economic Risk?

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Americas, Development, Economics, Latin America, Politics

Cuba’s Currency Crisis

How a dual system distorted the economy  For decades, Cuban people lived with two different currencies in their pockets: the CUP (Cuban National Peso) and the CUC (Convertible Peso). However, it was not always this way. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the CUC was introduced in order to stabilise the economy—but at what cost? Whilst the implementation of the CUC helped stabilise the … Continue reading Cuba’s Currency Crisis

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Americas, Europe, International, Politics, US

What is Trump’s Obsession with Greenland?

‘We need Greenland for national security purposes,’ declared President Donald Trump in a press conference on January 7th, a move shrouded in controversy that angered the EU, Denmark, and other rivals such as China and Russia. A closer look shows that his goal is much bigger than just spending almost $70 billion to buy a huge, mostly empty hunk of ice.     Firstly, this was … Continue reading What is Trump’s Obsession with Greenland?

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