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

Crossing Borders and Crossing lines: The International Impact of the Mexican Drug Trade

It is January 19th 2017 and Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán has just been extradited to the United States to face charges related to his running of the most powerful drug cartel in Mexico, the Sinaloa Cartel. The United States’ Drug Enforcement Administration, also known as the DEA, claims that this is a monumental victory that will be the beginning of the end for drug smuggling into America.  However, … Continue reading Crossing Borders and Crossing lines: The International Impact of the Mexican Drug Trade

The Impact of Breaking Bad on Albuquerque 

‘My name is Walter Hartwell White. I live at 308 Negra Arroyo Lane Albuquerque New Mexico 87104. This is my confession.’ That’s perhaps the most iconic line from the award-winning show ‘Breaking Bad’. Breaking Bad was filmed from 2008 to 2013 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Initially, director Vince Gilligan wanted to shoot in California, but after Sony bought the series, they requested a change of … Continue reading The Impact of Breaking Bad on Albuquerque 

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

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

Jair Bolsonaro giving a speech and waving his finger

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