Most Latin American and Caribbean economies survived the Great Recession in relatively good shape. But now as the global slowdown threatens to hang on indefinitely, what is their fate?
The countries of the region will grow faster — at an estimated rate of 3.9 percent over the next five years — than the global economy. “Latin America will gain weight in the world economy,’’ said José Juan Ruiz, chief economist at the Inter-American Development Bank.
But that doesn’t mean Latin American and Caribbean economies will be impervious to sluggish global growth. Commodity prices are expected to fall, and investment is expected to decelerate.