Search results

This book examines the phenomenon of Spanish companies' foreign direct investment in Latin America during the 1990s, demonstrating that it really does constitute a significant reconquest of that part of the New World, which had been lost by Spain in the wars of independence in the 1820s. The book takes this very striking argument and supports it with a reasonable set of information about the Spanish banks, electric companies, telecom company, and oil company, which have indeed taken leadership of these sectors in Latin America. One can debate whether or not this constitutes a real reconquest, but the very visible fact is that key Spanish firms now are the leaders in several Latin American service sectors, and in the oil business.

Under controls initially imposed in 1954, the exchange black market in Jamaica grew to about US$ 1.7 billion of transaction in value per year by 1990. This market contributed importantly to the operation of Jamaica's underground economy during the 1980s. The liberalising of the foreign exchange market and elimination of capital controls in 1991-92 undermined the economic logic favouring black markets. These changes may induce the transfer of a large part of previously underground financial activities into the legally-recorded economy. (DSE/DÜI)

Includes estimates of the narcoeconomy's impact, 1980-90.

This article discusses the black market in foreign exchange that existed in Peru prior to the government of President Fujimori, who took office in August 1990. The market continues today, but some of the characteristics have changed significantly due to the process of economic opening now underway