As the U.S. presidential campaign gets underway, AS/COA takes stock of public vs. private political party financing across the Americas. Television advertising is the largest campaign expenditure, but many countries provide a minimum of free TV and radio time.
Alberto Saracho Martinez, executive director of Fundación IDEA, uses the new Institutional Quality Index to show that economic growth and citizen well-being hinge on respect for basic freedoms. IDEA is one of 18 Latin American think tanks that came together to develop and recently launch the index.
Just over a month after the last of the newly elected Andean leaders took office, AS/COA convened private and public sector experts to analyze the direction of the region. All agreed that the Andes are at a historic moment, both politically and economically.
Topics in this issue:
• Chávez’s new term
• Nationalization plans
• Oil companies