Latin America fights financial colds
The Latin American bank IDB is holding its annual meeting today in Miami. Dan Grech reports Latin America may not be as healthy as it seems, but prudent fiscal policy can help it weather a U.S. downturn.
Left to right: IDB President Luis Alberto Moreno and Alfonso Quinones at the 2008 annual IDB meeting. (iabd.org)
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Scott Jagow: As goes the U.S. economy, so goes the global economy. That's been the prevailing wisdom for many years. This morning, investors around the world are waiting on the March jobs report for another reading on the U.S. economy.
But there are some people who believe Europe and Asia have decoupled from the U.S. And Latin America is trying. One of Latin America's top banks, the IDB, has a big meeting in Miami today. From our America's Desk at WLRN, Dan Grech reports.
Dan Grech: We've all heard the old saying: When the U.S. economy sneezes, Latin Americas catches a cold. But this time, many think the region has developed an immunity. High commodity prices and low interest rates have helped Latin America's economy grow by 6 percent a year since 2002.
But economist Ernesto Talvi says Latin America may not be as healthy as it seems:
Ernesto Talvi: Taking the complacent attitude that we're somehow immune to financial distress in international markets, it's a little bit misplaced.
IDB economist Alejandro Izquierdo says prudent fiscal policy can help Latin America weather a U.S. downturn.
Alejandro Izquierdo: We need to be cautious in order to keep all the good things that we've been able to achieve.
The IDB will be sounding this cautionary note during its five-day annual meeting.
In Miami, I'm Dan Grech for Marketplace.
