Martin Langfield's Blog, page 4

Review: The other side of Trumpismo

Mexico and the U.S. share complex, ever-deeper ties that contradict Donald Trump’s hostile rhetoric, Andrew Selee writes in “Vanishing Frontiers.” Bicultural businesses, movies and even co-hosting soccer’s 2026 World Cup are better signposts to the future than nationalist rants. My review:  https://reut.rs/2JI1HSi

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The other side of Trumpismo

Mexico and the U.S. share complex, ever-deeper ties that contradict Donald Trump’s hostile rhetoric, Andrew Selee writes in “Vanishing Frontiers.” Bicultural businesses, movies and even co-hosting soccer’s 2026 World Cup are better signposts to the future than nationalist rants. My review:  https://reut.rs/2JI1HSi

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In loco Parentis …

Pedro Parente’s exit as the head of state-controlled oil giant Petroleo Brasileiro deprives Brazil of some much-needed adult oversight. My Friday column.

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Review: The next fight for Latin America’s soul

My review of Michael Reid’s excellent “Forgotten Continent: A History of the New Latin America.” http://reut.rs/2ySebO1

Dictators and demagogues have come and gone; progress in the region has been impressive. Still, rule of law and effective institutions still lack, Michael Reid writes in “Forgotten Continent.” That makes the next steps toward prosperity harder.

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She’s back, but …

This week’s piece on Latin America: Argentina gives Macri a narrow vote of confidence

The president’s nemesis and predecessor Cristina Fernandez did not fare as well as expected in Sunday’s primary election. The peso’s strength in response shows the markets back Macri’s reforms. But Fernandez’s tally is a reminder the economic recovery is not reaching the poorest.

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Peace paradox

Colombia faces a paradox as FARC rebels disarm http://reut.rs/2sv7jC8

Ending five decades of civil war will lift the Andean nation’s economy in the long run, but place additional burdens on tight government finances in the meantime if peace is to prosper. Encouragingly, murders are down and tourism up, but it could all still go wrong.

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Morto-vivo

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Brazil will have to live with a zombie government until 2018 elections, writes Martin Langfield. http://reut.rs/2sjeIUP

Never a dull moment

When dealing with Argentina it’s prudent to expect the unexpected: my column today.

Argentina grinds toward economic credibility

Within just a couple of days Latin America’s third-largest economy sold a rare 100-year bond and was then surprisingly snubbed for inclusion in a major stock index by MSCI. Amid all the noise, President Mauricio Macri is slowly asserting the dullness of competence.

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Brazil’s economy teeters at the abattoir gates

Laws and sausages alike are famously messy to make. That Brazil’s President Temer, a master of the dark legislative arts, may lose his job over meatpacker JBS’s corruption charges is perhaps fitting. But pension reform still needs forcing through Congress, whoever’s in charge. My Breakingviews column http://reut.rs/2rSOlFw 

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Review: Uncharmed “Circle”

James Ponsoldt’s #TheCircle means well and the issues are real but, like its protagonist, the movie lacks a strong sense of identity. The book’s better, “Black Mirror” better still. My review: http://reut.rs/2ppGQpH.