Main content

What’s holding Latin America back?

It's a region blessed with incredible natural resources, vibrant cultures, amazing music and creative and talented people. So why has it never fulfilled its economic potential?

It's a region blessed with incredible natural resources, from copper to lithium to rich agricultural lands. It’s home to vibrant cultures, amazing music and creative and talented people.

And yet it has never fulfilled its enormous economic potential.

All too often it’s lurched from boom to bust, from hyperinflation to debt crises.

We ask why that is.

We consider corruption, crime, inequality, excessive bureaucracy and weak governance.

We look at Argentina’s long decline and Venezuela’s economic implosion, and ask what Latin America can do to bring greater prosperity to its people.

Produced and presented by Gideon Long

(Image: A man waves an Argentine flag during the demonstration. Members of the Argentine Workers' General Confederation and social organizations protested against new Argentine President Javier Milei's economic reforms, outside the Justice Palace in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Credit: Getty Images)

Available now

18 minutes

Featured

  • .

Broadcast

  • Mon 20 May 2024 07:32GMT

Business Daily Podcast

Download every programme.

Podcast