Blog Flux Directory Subscribe in NewsGator Online Subscribe with Bloglines http://www.wikio.com Blog directory
And, yes, I DO take it personally: There's little doubt about which Latin American countries are in the IMF's good graces (and Argentina isn't one of them)
Mandy: Great blog!
Mark: Thanks to all the contributors on this blog. When I want to get information on the events that really matter, I come here.
Penny: I'm glad I found your blog (from a comment on Think Progress), it's comprehensive and very insightful.
Eric: Nice site....I enjoyed it and will be back.
nora kelly: I enjoy your site. Keep it up! I particularly like your insights on Latin America.
Alison: Loquacious as ever with a touch of elegance -- & right on target as usual!
"Everybody's worried about stopping terrorism. Well, there's a really easy way: stop participating in it."
- Noam Chomsky
Send tips and other comments to: profmarcus2010@yahoo.com /* ---- overrides for post page ---- */ .post { padding: 0; border: none; }

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

There's little doubt about which Latin American countries are in the IMF's good graces (and Argentina isn't one of them)

Anne O. Krueger, First Deputy Managing Director, IMF, gave a talk today in Madrid entitled, Macroeconomic Situation and External Debt in Latin America... if you read it through, it's patently clear who the IMF's current fair-haired children are in Latin America... Brazil is held up throughout as a shining example of success as are Chile and Mexico... Argentina and Venezuela barely rate a mention even though Argentina has pulled off one of the most astounding recoveries of all... yes, Argentina is currently struggling with some nasty inflation and they have quite a bit left to do to make their culture and their economy more competitive, but they could have been given some credit for what they've managed to pull off so far...

here are the two times Argentina is mentioned in her speech...


  • Of course, several Latin American and Caribbean countries—Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela—are energy exporters and are therefore beneficiaries of higher energy prices. The challenge for them is to ensure that the windfall gains are used in a way that improves their long-term growth prospects.
  • In Argentina and Bolivia those planning to start a new business have to go through 15 procedures: in Brazil and Paraguay they have to go through 17. According to the World Bank publication "Doing Business 2006, that makes these countries among the most difficult in the world in terms of start-up procedures.
personally, i think the IMF's nose is out of joint for several reasons... one, argentine president néstor kirchner has laid a chunk of blame for the 2001 economic collapse at the feet of the IMF and the World Bank... two, argentina only a few weeks ago paid off their IMF debt in full... and, three, argentina has announced its intention to not seek new IMF funding...

brazil might want to keep in mind that, prior to the 2001 collapse, ARGENTINA was the IMF's poster child...

Submit To Propeller


And, yes, I DO take it personally home page