Title: Latin America in 2015: Growth for Some, Trouble for Others
Headings: Latin America in 2015: Manufacturing Aces, Commodity Bases and Basket Cases
Finance
Latin America in 2015: Manufacturing Aces, Commodity Bases and Basket Cases
Economic Diversity
A ‘Spring Cleaning’ for Brazil
Knowledge@Wharton High School
The Importance of Mexican Reform
Venezuela’s Slippery Slope

Content: Felipe Monteiro
The second sub-region covers much of South America, where most of the countries are essentially exporters of commodities and energy, largely agricultural commodities and minerals such as iron ore. These countries, including Brazil, have been beaten up by the slowdown in demand for their commodity exports from China, says Guillen. “ Unless China grows faster, those countries are not going to be doing well.” Brazil, by far the largest economy in South America, “is pretty much stagnant now. Chile is also having trouble because of dropping commodity prices, especially of copper,” he notes. The third sub-region comprises the nations of Bolivia, Venezuela and Argentina, says Guillen. These are “places where the problems are essentially self-inflicted because of their populist policies,” which have discouraged foreign investment and trade. Argentina in particular, he adds, is a “basket case.” A fourth sub-region to consider is the Caribbean, which is the subject of increased attention now thanks to the recent economic and diplomatic overtures to Cuba by the Obama administration. “ I wouldn’t expect any huge things in the Caribbean in 2015, but medium term, it is going to be really exciting, especially if the U.S. takes steps to lift at least parts of the embargo — and more money flows in,” Guillen says, noting that “the intention of the Cuban government is to have a gradual change, but the people are fed up.