An AS/COA panel on the World Bank's Doing Business 2009 survey examined Latin America's progress in addressing regulatory reform to promote business growth.

On February 9, AS/COA organized a public panel to look at the February 15, 2009, referendum in Venezuela that abolished term limits for all elected officials. The discussion focused on public opinion trends ahead of the upcoming vote, economic implications, and the legitimacy of the referendum.

On February 5, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, the David Rockefeller for Latin American Studies, and the Council of the Americas featured a seminar focused on the widespread economic, political, and social effects felt in the region amid the current global financial crisis.

Immigration raids and detentions come under scrutiny, Brazil’s president proposes a minimum wage increase, and the recession strikes Caribbean resorts. Read these stories and more in the Weekly Roundup.

Brazil's health care system as a case study, Raúl Castro heads to Moscow, and remittances take a downturn with the global economy. Read these stories and more in the Weekly Roundup.

The economy overtakes immigration as a priority issue for Hispanics, the opposition makes gains in El Salvador, and Peru switches back its finance minister. Read these stories and more in the Weekly Roundup.

Political fault lines in Bolivia, a plea for Plan Colombia, and a drought hits the Southern Cone. Read these stories and more in the Weekly Roundup.