Category: Latin America

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, 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, 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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Economics, Europe, History, International, Latin America

The Evolution of the Spanish Economy

Spain’s economic history has been a tapestry of conquest, exploration, colonization, and change. Over the centuries, the Spanish economy has evolved to take many different forms, from the glory of the Spanish Empire to its weakened state today. In this article, we will take a journey through time and explore the key periods and trends that have shaped Spain’s economic environment.  The Age of Discovery … Continue reading The Evolution of the Spanish Economy

Unknown's avatarAjay PrashadLeave a comment
Development, History, Latin America

Venezuela: A Petrostate’s Fall from Grace and The Exodus of Its People

In 1976, Venezuela’s economy was booming amid an oil crisis, and Caracas (its capital) was one of only four destinations to which Concorde, the fastest and most expensive aircraft of its time, alighted. However, the Venezuela of 1976 is a world away from the Venezuela that is currently under the dictatorship of President Nicolas Maduro. In fact, from the 1950s to the early 1980s, Venezuela … Continue reading Venezuela: A Petrostate’s Fall from Grace and The Exodus of Its People

Unknown's avatarNico Sesson FarreLeave a comment
Finance and Markets, Latin America

El Salvador and Bitcoin

On the 7th of September 2021, El Salvador accepted Bitcoin as a legal tender, joining the USD as the second official currency of the country. This is the first time a nation has accepted Bitcoin or any other cryptocurrency as a legal tender. Nayib Bukele, the 40-year-old Salvadoran president, was described as a “young president trying to capitalise on a popular image” with the Bitcoin … Continue reading El Salvador and Bitcoin

Unknown's avatarCharlie RolloLeave a comment
Jair Bolsonaro giving a speech and waving his finger
Latin America

Brazil – Country of the Future

“Brazil is the country of the future, and always will be”, so goes the adage that has haunted Brazilian citizens for decades. Despite boasting one tenth of the world’s fresh water, untapped forests and significant deposits of precious minerals, the Brazilian economy has struggled to fully employ the natural resources it has been blessed with, leaving many wondering whether it will ever achieve the position … Continue reading Brazil – Country of the Future

Unknown's avatarFelipe DreesmannLeave a comment