The Americas Quarterly Podcast

Twice a year the AQ Podcast takes stock of Latin America’s economies — what the region is doing well and where the challenges are. There is good news — inflation below OECD levels, for example, but growth is still below potential, according to our guest, William F. Maloney, Chief Economist for Latin America and the Caribbean at the World Bank. He argues that more competition within countries could be a motor for change. William also provides some clarity on the trend that’s been at the top of everyones minds when it comes to investment in the region, nearshoring, and the extent to which it is actually happening.Subscribe to the Americas Quarterly Podcast on Apple, Spotify and other platformsGuest: William F. Maloney is Chief Economist for Latin America and the Caribbean at the World BankHost: Brian Winter is the editor-in-chief of Americas QuarterlyIf you’d like to know more: Mexico’s Post-Election Fiscal Reality Check by Carlos Ramírez FuentesAQ Podcast | A Surprising Case for Optimism in PeruCan Copper Prices and Nearshoring Restart Peru’s Economic Dynamism? by Alfredo ThorneAQ Podcast | Nearshoring In The Americas: Hype And RealityA Ticking Clock for Latin America’s Nearshoring Opportunity by Shannon K. O’NeilEU’s Elections May Have Unexpected Reverberations in Latin America by Solange Márquez EspinozaSaudi Arabia Courts Latin America and the Caribbean by Emilie SweigartWhy the U.S. and China Suddenly Care About a Port in Southern Chile by Patricia GaripLatin America Needs More Infrastructure to Seize Nearshoring Opportunity by Susan Segal

Former diplomat and academic Edmundo González Urrutia, the opposition candidate, discusses the upcoming Venezuelan election. They explore Maduro's willingness to accept defeat, chances for a transition to democracy, and the importance of a negotiated settlement. With González leading in polls, the episode analyzes the election dynamics, potential outcomes, and uncertainties in Venezuela's political landscape.

Viri Ríos, a prominent intellectual in Mexico, discusses Claudia Sheinbaum's victory, predicting her leadership style and impact, and comparing her to other Latin American leaders. They explore Mexico's economic challenges, tax reforms, and the importance of monitoring Sheinbaum's administration dynamics.

Peru's story in the past 20 years has gone from fast growth and poverty reduction to fractious politics and a dwindling economy. In this episode, Alfredo Thorne, a former finance minister (2016-2017), makes the case for how the country could get back on track to restore growth and distribute it more fairly between rich and poor, Lima and the rest of the country. In his view, high copper prices and new ports expected to be inaugurated soon provide that opportunity, despite the risks associated with a dependency on commodities for development.

Panama’s president-elect José Raúl Mulino assumes control of a country struggling with challenges that pertain not only to its population but to many other countries as well. Climate change is affecting the Panama canal and there is rising migration through the Darien Gap. Panama is also a theater for the U.S.-China competition. In today's episode we explore what to expect from Mulino's term in office regarding these and other issues, such as the copper mine that has been a center of controversy in the past year and what's next for Ricardo Martinelli, the former president who helped put Mulino in office while simultaneously hiding in the Nicaraguan embassy to escape a conviction for money laundering. Our guest is Mat Youkee, a journalist who has covered Latin America for many years and Panama since 2018.

In an attempt to gauge what another Joe Biden or Donald Trump administration would mean for policy toward Latin America, the AQ Podcast is bringing in people with intimate knowledge of both camps. In this episode, Ricardo Zúniga, a major figure on Latin America policy under the Barack Obama and Biden administrations, reviews the major events on the past fours years and looks ahead to what could change if Biden is reelected in November. He discusses overarching policy strategies towards the region, how the U.S. has addressed China’s growing presence there, migration and trade, as well as the specific dynamics of the relationships with Venezuela, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Cuba and Argentina.

Pollster and political strategist Ana Iparraguirre discusses why Argentineans are still supporting Milei despite economic hardships, highlighting his pro-market agenda and ambitions on the global stage. The podcast explores the challenges faced by Milei in building alliances, enacting reforms, and navigating the political landscape in Argentina. It also touches on the clash between libertarian ideals and regulatory needs, as well as the evolving political ideologies in the country.

Brazil's economy performed better than expected last year, expanding almost 3%. But in 2024 the outlook is more complex, as last year's sources of growth are not expected to perform in the same way. There is also a tug of war inside the Lula administration about public spending and government oversight in national oil company Petrobras. In this episode we assess Latin America's largest economy from an investment perspective and look at the politics behind recent government decisions and what is to come. Our guest is Mário Braga, a senior analyst for Brazil at Control Risks consultancy firm.

Jose Vicente Carr, an expert on Venezuelan politics, discusses Maduro's power consolidation strategies and the opposition's willingness to participate in the upcoming election. The episode explores Maduro's control tactics, the importance of a unified opposition, Maria Corina's strategic maneuvers, US-Venezuela relations, and the challenges faced by the Biden administration in engaging with Maduro.