The Intelligence from The Economist
Through the fire: an update from Hawaii
Aug 16, 2023
Oliver Morton, Briefings Editor at The Economist, offers poignant insights on the Maui wildfires, detailing the environmental factors that contributed to this catastrophic event. He discusses personal stories of loss and the ongoing recovery efforts. Meanwhile, Mie Dahl, the publication's Latin America correspondent, examines the economic fallout from falling coca prices in Colombia, shedding light on the struggles of farmers and the implications for rural communities. Together, they paint a stark portrait of crisis and resilience.
23:48
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Quick takeaways
- Colombia is facing a crisis due to rock-bottom cocaine prices caused by overproduction and competition from smaller criminal groups.
- Northern European countries are concerned about the dominance of English in university courses, potentially leading to domain loss and erosion of national languages.
Deep dives
Massive glut of coca leaves causing price drop and consequences for farmers in Colombia
Colombia is experiencing a huge surplus of coca leaves due to increased efficiency in cocaine production and unintended consequences of policy changes. The resulting rock-bottom prices are having significant consequences for farmers who grow coca leaves. Overproduction, improved efficiency, and competition from smaller criminal groups have led to lower cocaine prices and a social and economic crisis in rural Colombia. The government's response has been slow, and while there are efforts to help farmers transition to legal crops, urgent action is needed to prevent further damage to local economies.
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