News of spending

Inflation is upending politics in the most unequal region on Earth

15-09-2022 02:22 In Latin America, persistent high inflation is widening the gap between rich and poor in what is already the world’s most unequal region.

NEW MEASURES

Argentina seeks to shift all-cash workers into payroll jobs

30-08-2022 15:06 Policy aims to target welfare recipients who opt for informal, all-cash jobs to avoid losing government benefits and persuade them to stay in the system.

NEW ECONOMY MINISTER

Inflation, export duties and IMF: Silvina Batakis’ economic definitions

06-07-2022 23:00 Martín Guzmán’s successor considers that the escalation of prices is a multi-causal phenomenon and defends strong state regulation of the economy. For her, “wages must run ahead of inflation.”

BLOOMBERG - ANALYSIS

Argentina's subsidy cuts mired in doubt under new minister

06-07-2022 22:14 Several analysts insist that a question mark hangs over Silvina Batakis’ commitment to spending cuts penned by Martín Guzmán and the IMF.

POVERTY

2,800 Argentines slipping into poverty every day, experts warn

23-06-2022 23:20 Private estimates reveal horrifying social data underlining that being employed, whether formally or informally, is no guarantee against being poor. With annual inflation approaching three digits and sustained price increases for food and beverages above the monthly average, family incomes are increasingly falling short.

by Gonzalo Martínez

INFLATION

Inflation bites, but high-end consumption is still on the rise

27-05-2022 00:23 Prices are rising by an average of 70% year-on-year and many popular purchases are collapsing, though tourism, theatres, gastronomy, cars and household appliance sales are in full swing.

Heightened uncertainty

Deep in the rabbit hole, Argentina searches for its soul

12-11-2021 22:17 Once the dust settles, Argentina will find itself deeper in the rabbit hole it has lived in for nearly a century and with even less margin than it had in the past.

by Agustino Fontevecchia

Politics

The Berni Headlock and the Cristina Shake

16-10-2021 00:01 Whether on purpose or not, the pan-Peronist coalition led by Alberto Fernández and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner is trying to drag the conversation away from the economic failures during their tenure in an attempt to claw back votes.

by Agustino Fontevecchia

POLITICS

Filthy, dirty, sexy (monopoly) money

01-10-2021 23:04 Frente de Todos will put out all the stops to win back disillusioned voters in Peronist strongholds that didn’t go out to vote.

by Agustino Fontevecchia

POST-PASO FALLOUT

Casa Rosada draws up post-PASO measures, no plans for reshuffle

14-09-2021 16:52 Fernández administration drawing up host of measures designed to boost consumption and improve purchasing power.

BLOOMBERG – ANALYSIS

The problem with Latin America’s rate hikes: they barely work

09-09-2021 14:25 From Brazil to Mexico, banks tighten faster than global peers; Unstable politics and off-the-books economies limit the impact

And that reminds me…

Grabbing the wealth of health by stealth

19-06-2021 09:51 Replacing Argentina’s fragmented system with a comprehensive public health system is highly rational in principle and there are some positive examples abroad – but what are the chances of these being emulated under the current government?

by Michael Soltys