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Argentina on the brink of disaster is an economic analysis of the Argentine crisis. The text begins with an analogy between the plagues of Egypt and the serious economic problems facing Argentina, attributed to the lack of adequate measures by the State: high inflation, loss of purchasing power, increase in informality, economic stagnation, flight of capital, decrease in international reserves, massive devaluation and the possibility of a right-wing government at the end of the year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper makes an economic assessment of Jair Bolsonaro's presidency. It analyzes the triangle of incompatibilities: high income inequality-reprimarization of the economy-high economic growth; and if one adds the environment, one could say the impossible squaring of the circle. The result of this impossibility is economic stagnation, persistent high inequality, deterioration of the standard of living, especially of the poorest, and serious damage to the environment through deforestation. The pandemic and the war in Ukraine have shaken an already "sick" economy and reveal the structural crisis in Brazil, as well as the turning points in the functioning of the labor market. The present ruptures suggest the political exhaustion of the current presidency and that the country is at a crossroads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the presidencies of Néstor Kirchner (2003-2007) and Cristina Kirchner (2007-2015) in Argentina, and of Lula (2003-2011) and Dilma Roussef (2011-2016) in Brazil, both countries showed relatively high growth rates, real wages increased and poverty decreased. In Argentina, the economic dynamics slowed down in 2012 and Brazil entered into a deep crisis in 2014. These failures can be explained by two “original sins": the relaxation of external constraint in Argentina and Brazil and financialization in Brazil. The former generated a real appreciation of the national currency against the dollar not compensated by an increase in labor productivity. The second manifested itself to the detriment of industrial investment. Although these effects could have been controlled, their cost has been very high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new commercial globalization changed the map of the global industry. Today's world is different from yesterday. North does not dominate South in the same way. In the South there are large heterogeneities between developing countries, the emerging Asian and Latin American countries, etc. Some countries in the South have come to impose their own rules. However, not all emerging economies in the South have the same capacity prevail, as Latin America. Some Asian countries benefit temporarily from high growth, but experience a process of deindustrialization that weakens them. Some theories and analytical tools have become outdated or inaccurate, such as the center-periphery approach. Countries that yesterday belonged to the periphery have acquired characteristics of the old center and even exercise control over developed countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

El artículo trata la violencia en América Latina. Afirma que el nivel de violencia en la mayor parte de los países latinoamericanos es más elevado que en Europa, Estados Unidos y Canadá. Aborda Colombia como un caso extremo de violencia. Analiza la violencia en cuatro dimensiones: su intensidad, diferencias regionales, evolución y efecto sobre la esperanza de vida.

This paper studies the evolution of violence in South America. It analyzes and discusses the influence of different economic variables on homicide rates, using an econometric test based on data of some South American countries during the period 1995-2000. It shows that this economic approach can be usefull but can also be dangerous when it leads to the wrong policies of social exclusion. Furthermore, it also shows how variables such rapid urbanization, low education, and inefficient regulations, together with corruption, play an important role in the generation of violence in South America. Finally, the paper recommends changing the way of perceiving economics and its social implications, by examining the interaction of this discipline with other social sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]