Andrés Velasco, a former finance minister of Chile, is a visiting professor at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs. He has consulted for the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the Inter-American Development Bank, as well as for several Latin American governments.
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Andres Velasco
Commentaries by Andres Velasco
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A Tale of Two Countries
SANTIAGO – Barely two years ago, Brazil’s rapid economic growth and expanding middle class made it the darling of financial markets, whereas…
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Latin America’s Unfinished Quest
SANTIAGO – The participants came, European guests were greeted, speeches were delivered, toasts made, and, in the end, the annual meeting of…
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Monetary Regime Transition in the Emerging World
SANTIAGO – Is inflation targeting – the rule that most of the world’s major central banks (though not the United States Federal Reserve) use…
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Europe’s Debt-Relief Calculus
SANTIAGO – Europe has long been menaced by the threat of two crises. The first would erupt with a successful speculative attack on a large e…
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Brazil’s Growth Conundrum
SANTIAGO – Brazil needs to grow more. That is what the country’s president, Dilma Rousseff, keeps telling Brazilians. With the economy nearl…
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The Natural-Resource Curse Strikes Again
SANTIAGO – Chile today produces one-third of the world’s lithium – used in batteries that power everything from computers to cars – and has …
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The Roots of Chile’s Malaise
SANTIAGO – Margaret Thatcher famously once said that “there is no such thing as society.” Today, the people of Chile are showing just how wr…
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Rebuilding Venezuelan Democracy
SANTIAGO – Excitement, anxious young faces, the sense of a nation’s best and brightest coming together for a noble cause: the scene was an o…
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The Other Mexico
SANTIAGO – For once, Mexico is in the news for something good: an election. What a contrast to the usual coverage by international news agen…
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An Argentine Guide to the Greek Crisis
SANTIAGO – Policymakers in Europe seem to be surprised at the ongoing bank run in Greece (and the nascent run in Spain). They should not be.…
A Tale of Two Countries
Jay Stephens: I think Andres' analysis is sound for the medium term. I also think his hedge at the end is wise - the very core ingredient he puts at the top of the list of Mexico's advantages (sitting upstream of …
A Tale of Two Countries
Carol Maczinsky: It is essential to create market order before business starts to get its way. By joining TAFTA Mexico gave up much of its independence. They could easily become the second Greece or the second Ireland…