A Food Fight for Hugo Chavez March 11, 2010

Caracas - It's 10 a.m., and tempers are already flaring at the Cada supermarket in Caracas' San Bernardino neighborhood. The store has just taken delivery of two ...

Mexico's Carlos Slim Builds a Dazzling Art Palace January 26, 2010

For many years, Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim lived a deliberately understated lifestyle...

Mexico City's Hottest Buildings: Eclectic, Unusual Architecture January 25, 2010

A virtual tour of Mexico City's diverse, often show-stopping architecture (slideshow)

A Proposed Debt Deal in Argentina Sparks a Constitutional Crisis January 14, 2010

For the better part of a decade, overseas investors have viewed Argentina as a pariah: After a currency collapse in 2001, the country suspended payments on some $95 ...

For Want of Higher Taxes, Mexico's Debt Is Downgraded December 14, 2009

For years, Mexico's policymakers have avoided taking the tough medicine the country needs to boost its tax revenue and reduce its singular dependence on oil revenues. ...

Banking Crisis Challenges Venezuela's Chávez December 09, 2009

They're called the Boli-bourgeoisie, a small cadre of favored Venezuelan businessmen who have become wealthy through their connections to President Hugo Chávez. ...

Mexico: The Other Central Banker Under Fire December 03, 2009

Mexico City - For the past dozen years, Guillermo Ortiz has served as Mexico's inflation-fighter-in-chief. Since his appointment in 1998, the central bank governor has...

Healing Chile's Malaise November 20, 2009

Santiago - Valeria Garcia has come a long way in the past two decades. As a high school dropout, she lived in a wooden shack with a dirt-floor kitchen and a tin roof ...

Hard Times Ease for Cemex, Mexico's Cement Giant October 29, 2009

Monterrey, Mexico - For the head of a company that has just been through the worst stretch in its century-plus history, Lorenzo H. Zambrano is awfully cheerful. Over ...

A Q&A with Cemex CEO Zambrano October 29, 2009

It's safe to say this has been one of the most difficult years in the life of Lorenzo Zambrano, the 65-year-old chairman and CEO of Cemex (CX), the world's ...

Mexico's President Moves Against Monopolies October 12, 2009

For the past three years, Mexican President Felipe Calderón has waged an all-out war against powerful drug trafficking cartels, sending army troops on sweeps through ...

Olympics Won, Brazil's Work Begins October 02, 2009

If there was any doubt that Brazil is on a roll—economically, politically, and diplomatically—that doubt was dispelled Oct. 2 when the International ..

The Oil Crisis Slamming Mexico September 17, 2009

Mexico City - It's crunch time in Mexico. After years of surpluses, the country is facing a growing budget gap. The shortfall is sparking vigorous debate on shutting ...

Mexico Scrambles to Save its Credit Rating September 10, 2009

Mexico is not a fiscal basket case, yet its beleaguered presidency has prepared massive budget cuts to save the country's hard-won credit rating on its sovereign debt....

Mexico's Pemex Appoints New CEO September 08, 2009

It's a classic formula: When a company is underperforming, the CEO gets the boot and a younger, fresher face is brought in to shake things up. That's what happened ...

Chevron vs. Ecuador: The Battle Heats Up  September 02, 2009

Chevron (CVX) dropped a bombshell when it leveled charges of bribery and judicial misconduct in a $27 billion environmental lawsuit in Ecuador. But instead of causing ...

Chevron: Tapes Show Bias in Ecuador Case September 01, 2009

It's the kind of blockbuster plot twist normally reserved for the movies. Oil giant Chevron (CVX), enduring a barrage of negative publicity from a $27 billion ...

Petrobras Brandishes Its Corporate Blog August 30, 2009

It's not often that companies engage in long-term battles with their home country's leading newspapers. But that's what's happening in Brazil, where a new corporate ...

Mexico: A Glimmer of Good News in a Gloomy Economy August 16, 2009

It was a rare bit of good news for Mexican President Felipe Calderón. On Aug. 11 he inaugurated a new, $300 million General Motors (GM) transmission plant in San Luis ...

Brazil's Coming Rebound August 06, 2009

São Paulo - For years, Edilson dos Reis Rodrigues dreamed of owning a home. But the public school teacher and his wife together earn just $710 a month, so he could ...

Mexico: An Antitrust Crackdown on Carlos Slim? July 16, 2009

Mexico City - Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim didn't become the world's second-richest man by playing nice with rivals. Competitors in Mexico's telecommunications ...

Mexico's Power Shift Challenges Calderón July 06, 2009

Less than a decade after losing control of the Mexican presidency following 71 years in power, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) roared back to life in the ...

Honduras' Coup: The Last Thing a Poor Nation Needs June 29, 2009

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story had an incorrect amount for how much Millennium Challenge money Honduras is to receive in 2009 Long before a military ...

New Cuba Policy Is No Business Home Run April 15, 2009

Thomas Herzfeld's clients may have been the first to profit from President Barack Obama's decision to ease sanctions on Cuba. In the hours after Washington liberalized...

Mexico: Why Big Business is Standing its Ground (Cover story)  April 09, 2009

11. K.Alan Russell has spent 23 years clearing bureaucratic and logistical hurdles for U.S. companies running low-cost plants in Ciudad Juárez. Never has he had to do as ...
    

Doing Business in Harm's Way April 09, 2009

The scene didn't do much to impress the potential investors. Homero Galindo, who often gives city tours to foreigners mulling investments in Mexico's Ciudad Juárez, ...

Laptops Come to Schools in the Andes June 05, 2008

The aging station wagon crept slowly up a one-lane dirt road that zigzagged up a steep mountain in the Peruvian Andes. At the sharpest hairpin curves, with clusters of...

One Laptop Meets Big Business June 05, 2008

One by one, the children ran into the school yard, lining up in a grassy field next to a low-slung building of classrooms topped by a rusty steel roof. Most of these ...

A Slide Show Of Peruvian Kids Using One Laptop Per Child Computers. June 01, 2008

Geri Smith did a remarkable job in Peru for the Old Laptop Per Child story in the current issue of IN--Inside Innovation. Check out her narrated slide show of the ...

The Mismanagement of One Laptop Per Child. June 01, 2008

The next issue of Inside Innovation is out online on Thursday and in print on Friday and it features a cover story on how the One Laptop Per Child foundation was ...

Brazil Goes Investment-Grade May 01, 2008

Just five years ago, it would have been impossible to envision Brazil as an investment-grade country: The South American nation was strapped with billions in debt, and...

Mexico's Oil Dilemma April 28, 2008

Carlos Morales Gil, head of exploration and production for Petróleos Mexicanos, or Pemex, Mexico's state oil company, is sunburned. But it's not because of his ...

A Slippery Moment for Mexican Oil April 24, 2008

MEXICO CITY - Mexico's normally staid Congress was in disarray. The doors were chained shut, with desks piled up against the dais. Opposition politicians camped out in...

The Offshoring of Airplane Care April 10, 2008

Hangar No. 1 at San Salvador's airport is hopping. Technicians employed by jet maintenance contractor Aeroman swarm over Airbus planes belonging to JetBlue (JBLU), US ...

What You Don't Know About Nafta March 19, 2008

Trade hawks hunting for the corporate villains behind the flight of U.S. manufacturing jobs to Mexico might find General Electric a handy target. In the 14 years since...

Imagining Life Without Castro March 12, 2008

In February, after a 14-month wait, I finally received permission from the Cuban government to travel to the island and report on the Cuban economy.

Why Is NAFTA a Political Hot Potato? March 06, 2008

The North American Free Trade Agreement has been the subject of searing criticism by the Democratic Presidential candidates. But a closer examination of the treaty's ...

When Will Cuba Be Open for Business? February 29, 2008

For 45 years, Fidel Castro had a convenient scapegoat for many of the island's problems: a U.S. trade embargo that since 1962 has barred American companies and ...

The Cuban Economy: After the Smoke Clears February 28, 2008

Roger Johnson knew that Fidel Castro would step down eventually. But the Cuban leader's Feb. 19 retirement announcement, while Johnson was in Havana, added an ...

Cuba Under the Other Castro February 24, 2008

Cuba's National Assembly on Feb. 24 selected Raúl Castro, 76, as the new President of Cuba, marking the end of 49 years of leadership by Fidel Castro.

Fidel Castro Resigns as Cuba's President February 19, 2008

Aging Cuban leader Fidel Castro, who hasn't been seen in public since falling ill 19 months ago, used his still-mighty pen and apparently intact intellect to tell ...

NAFTA: Two Mexicos, Two Outcomes February 12, 2008

Anyone who doubts the transformative power of free trade need only look at Mexico. Since Jan. 1, 1994, when the country teamed up with the U.S. and Canada to create ...

Securing the Border February 08, 2008

How the U.S. is trying to secure the border with Mexico with actual fences, "virtual fences," and boots on the ground--and what's wrong with that approach.

On the Border: The 'Virtual Fence' Isn't Working February 07, 2008

It's a scene replayed often along the southwestern border of the U.S. Helicopter-borne Border Patrol agents cruising above a stretch of harsh Sonoran Desert known to ...

The Ugly Side of Microlending December 13, 2007

In a gleaming office tower in Mexico City secured with retinal scanners, bulletproof glass, and armed guards, dozens of workers in white lab coats dart around a large ...

Wal-Mart Banks on the 'Unbanked' December 13, 2007

Every day 2.5 million people walk through the doors of a Wal-Mart (WMT) store in Mexico, generating nearly $20 billion in sales last year. Now they are potential ...

Compartamos: From Nonprofit to Profit December 13, 2007

Banco Compartamos portrays itself as the gentler lender to Mexico's poor. Compartamos means "let's share," reflecting the philosophy of its founder, José Ignacio ...

Online Extra: Microlending: It's No Cure-all December 13, 2007

The initial public offering in April that earned $467 million for the owners of a Mexican lender to the poor, Banco Compartamos (BMOSF), provoked a passionate protest ...

Chavez Tastes Defeat December 07, 2007 (podcast)

In a stunning upset, Chavez lost his referendum to do away with term limits, giving heart to his splintered opposition. But the Venezuelan president still has vast ...

Costa Rica: Head for the Tropics October 29, 2007

Many of us entertain fantasies of retiring to a tropical vacation paradise. But few take the bold step that Roger Chewning and his wife, Kathy Thomson, did in 2005. ...

Drug Wars South of the Border October 26, 2007

The White House wants to spend hundreds of millions of dollars in Mexico's growing war on drug dealers. The situation is getting serious for Mexican president Felipe ...

Fidel Castro: Is This the Endgame? August 31, 2007

Rumors built steadily in August that Castro had died. In the end, the rumors were baseless. But Fidel's health remains very fragile, Cuba's economy weak, and the ...

Microfinance Draws Mega Players July 09, 2007

If you think microfinance is the exclusive domain of do-gooders seeking a free-market cure to global poverty, think again. While much of the money flowing into loans ...

Here Comes the Chinese Motorcade July 09, 2007

Chinese automaker plans to assemble vehicles in Mexico ...

Carlos Slim's Fat Fortune July 04, 2007

Another month, another $3.5 billion dollars. That's the rate at which Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim's fortune has been multiplying this year. The rapid accumulation ...

Behind Exxon’s and Conoco’s Exit from Venezuela (podcast) June 29, 2007

Chavez' successful plan to renationalize Venezuela's oil industry

Two Oil Giants Exit Venezuela June 26, 2007

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez got what he wanted on June 26—he forced six global oil giants to hand equity stakes of 60% or more in four key heavy-oil ...

A Love-Hate Relationship With Chávez June 25, 2007

Just how hard is it to do business in Venezuela? As President Hugo Chávez leads his country toward "21st century socialism," hardly a day passes without another change...

Latin America: Beating The Oil Curse June 04, 2007

With oil prices as high as they are, you'd think Mexico's state-run oil company, Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex), would be awash in cash. But it lost money five out of the...

Chavez' Venezuela: Banks Next? May 11, 2007

Chavez has seized control of the oil fields in his country, and now he is making threatening noises about the banks. There is no viable opposition either

Factories Go South. So Does Pay April 09, 2007

These should be the best of times for Mexico's auto industry. The country produced a record 2 million cars and light trucks last year, exporting three-fourths of them,...

Immigration Reform: Bush's Big Promises March 15, 2007

On his week-long visit to five Latin American countries that wound up on Mar. 14, President George W. Bush tried to keep the focus on trade, on U.S. aid for ...

Can Bush Mend Fences in Latin America? (podcast) March 08, 2007

President Bush has ignored Latin America since 9-11. Since then, Hugo Chavez has extended his influence and the Chinese have become major trade partners with the ...

What Can Bush Bring Latin America? March 07, 2007

Having largely ignored Latin America during his six years in office, President George Bush is heading off on Mar. 8 on a week-long visit to Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia, ...

Carlos Slim On Monopoly, Pemex, And Kids March 05, 2007

Billionaire Carlos Slim Helú recently sat down for a two-hour conversation with Mexico City Bureau Chief Geri Smith. Here are excerpts: On whether he's a monopolist...

Slim's Big Giveaway March 05, 2007

What do you do if you are Mexico's most powerful businessman and a lightning rod for criticism? You give away a lot more of your money. That's what Carlos Slim Helú ...

Wrapping The Globe In Tortillas February 26, 2007

Tortillas are a hot topic in Mexico these days. Since December, prices for the staple disks of corn have shot up 67%, spurring the government to impose price controls ...

Cuba Without Castro: A Look Ahead December 26, 2006

For decades, Cuban Americans living in Miami have toasted each other at New Year's by saying, "Next year in Havana!" They'll be doing the same this Dec. 31, but for ...

Augusto Pinochet's Uncomfortable Legacy December 11, 2006

I'll never forget the early-morning phone call I received on Feb. 25, 1982. I was working in Santiago, Chile, as the bureau chief for United Press International, and I...

Challenges Await Mexico's New Leader December 01, 2006

Defying rebellious opposition politicians who jeered and whistled their disapproval, Mexican President Felipe Calderón took the oath of office Friday and pledged to ...

A Leftist at the Helm in Ecuador November 28, 2006

A leftist economist who has vowed to break off free-trade talks with the U.S. and advocated defaulting on the country's foreign debt has been elected president of ...

The Race for Numero Uno in Latin Wireless November 27, 2006

For the past five years, two mobile operators have been battling head-on to become the dominant player in Latin America: América Móvil (AMX), controlled by Mexican ...

In Mexico, Banco Wal-Mart November 20, 2006

For years, Wal-Mart has tried to get into banking in the U.S. But so far it has come up empty-handed as everyone from rival banks to unions rose up in opposition. ...

How Will Ortega Use the Office? November 09, 2006

More than a quarter-century after the Sandinista guerrillas burst onto the scene and overthrew Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somoza, their former leader has been ...

Mexico's Classrooms Go Multimedia November 05, 2006

Thirty-three fifth-grade students crowd into a classroom at a public elementary school in Cuajimalpa, a poor district on the outskirts of Mexico City. Trucks and buses...

In Ecuador, One Slippery Oil Patch October 23, 2006

Six months ago, Carlos Blum was an operations chief at Occidental Petroleum Corp.'s () huge oil field in Ecuador's Amazon jungle -- a plum job. Over its 21 years in ...

Is the Game Over for Mexico's Monopolies? October 06, 2006

It doesn't take long for a visitor to Mexico to learn what it's like to live in a land of monopolies and duopolies. At the Mexico City airport, passengers needing ...

A Talk with Mexico's Competition Czar October 06, 2006

For the past two years, Eduardo Pérez Motta, president of Mexico's Federal Competition Commission (CFC), has been trying to make the Mexican economy more competitive ...

Chávez's Slick Deal with Castro October 04, 2006

Over nearly half a century, 10 U.S. presidents have tried to isolate Cuba in order to hasten the fall of Fidel Castro. The wily Communist leader has survived the ...

Chávez Starts Punishing America September 25, 2006

There was a time when Pat La Vecchia was glad that the fuel he sold came from friendly Venezuela and not some sheikdom with a history of oil embargoes. "For years, ...

Mexico: Is the Election Finally Over? August 29, 2006

Mexico's too-close-to-call presidential election finally appears to be reaching resolution: The country's top electoral tribunal ruled Aug. 28 against a total vote ...

Mexico's Drug Wars Heat Up August 29, 2006

In the once-chic beach resort of Acapulco, the severed heads of two police officers who had been clamping down on drug traffickers were found a few months ago with a ...

Emerging Giants (Cover story) July 31, 2006

Multinationals from China, India, Brazil, Russia and even Egypt are coming on strong.

Embraer: An Ugly Duckling Finds Its Wings July 31, 2006

A half-dozen freshly painted jets fill a mammoth hangar. One, emblazoned with the JetBlue logo, is being fitted with 100 leather seats and individual TV screens as ...

Online Extra: Embraer Helps to Educate Brazil July 31, 2006

Every three weeks, when JetBlue Airways takes delivery of a new commercial aircraft from Brazilian manufacturer Embraer, the U.S. low-cost airline contributes ...

Podcast: The Electoral Crisis in Mexico July 14, 2006

BW Mexico City Bureau Chief Geri Smith talks about Mexico's presidential crisis and its impact on investment. The presidential election in Mexico is the closest in ...

Mexico Expects More Vote Protests July 10, 2006

Mexico's historic downtown plaza, the Zócalo, has always represented the country's center of power as well as its uneasy mix of cultures. When the Spaniards conquered ...

Mexico's Election: Round Two? July 05, 2006

A tense, 24-hour-long recount of Mexico's disputed presidential vote produced a razor-thin ...

A Race To Get People Talking July 03, 2006

For decades, traffic lights in Mexico City have proven fertile territory for the legions of windshield cleaners, newsboys, and jugglers who swarm out into traffic ...

A Tight Race in Mexico June 30, 2006

Mexicans vote on Sunday, July 2, for a new president. Depending on whom one talks to, the results will either mean disaster or good fortune for this country of 107 million ...

For Brazil's Poor, a Digital Deliverance? June 21, 2006

Ronaldo Monteiro was halfway through a 13-year prison sentence for kidnapping when his life took a turn for the better. That's when a nonprofit group delivered a bunch...

South Of The Border And To The Left June 12, 2006

With Washington focused on immigration reform and border security, the U.S. is paying little attention to what's roiling our southern neighbor: The possible election ...

In Search of Señor Presidente June 07, 2006

It's just 9:30 a.m. but already sweat is trickling down my back as I make my way through a crowd of 600 or so people gathered in the central plaza of Matamoros, a city...

Mexico's Tight Race (podcast) June 02, 2006

Mexicans elect their next president on July 2, and the choice boils down to Felipe Calderon, a centrist, or Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the former mayor of Mexico ...

Mexico: Pumping Out Engineers May 22, 2006

For years the Mexican workforce has meant one thing to multinationals: cheap, reliable labor, perfect for assembling cars, refrigerators, and other goods in the ...

Ecuador's Risky Energy Grab May 17, 2006

Kicking out Occidental could mean more oil revenues, but making a deal with a new company and mollifying the U.S. won't be easy.

Finding the Middle in Brazil May 17, 2006

President Lula's mix of financial discipline and social activism makes him a favorite for reelection in the fall.

Bush Plan Provokes Mexico's Ire May 17, 2006

Anger at a proposal for 6,000 border troops may damage economic relations between the U.S. and Mexico and affect its presidential election.

Bolivia's Risky Game May 03, 2006

The sudden move to nationalize energy reserves is almost certain to alienate foreign investors -- and even allies like Brazil.

The Heat On Oxy In Ecuador April 24, 2006

It faces an onerous tax, and even the possibility of losing its oil fields

The Immigration Payoff April 19, 2006

Legalizing migrants would boost their investment in the U.S. economy -- and give a big lift to Mexico, too.

Venezuela v. Big Oil (podcast) April 07, 2006

BusinessWeek Mexico City bureau chief, Geri Smith, talks about Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez, and his confrontation with Big Oil

Venezuela's Seizure Ups the Ante April 04, 2006

Taking greater control in the oil fields, President Hugo Chávez is seeking a bigger slice of the pie. Question is, do the oil giants have much choice?

Doors Are Opening for Mexico's Indians March 22, 2006

Opportunities and conditions for indigenous citizens have improved since the 1994 revolt. But more reforms are needed

Piggybanks Full Of Pesos March 13, 2006

Mexico's middle class is expanding, and that's good for U.S. business

The Fox in Winter March 10, 2006

Nearing the end of his term, Mexican President Vicente Fox reflects on his accomplishments

Fox Q&A: Looking Back, and Ahead March 10, 2006

As his term nears its end, Mexico's President offers his view of the challenges ahead

What Happened to "Los Dos Amigos"? February 22, 2006

Mexican-U.S. relations are in the deep freeze, and there are few hopes for improvement during this election year

Angling To Be The Next Bangalore January 30, 2006

Online Extra: Can Latin America Challenge India? January 30, 2006

With proximity to the U.S. and free trade agreements in place, many countries south of the border are building up their outsourcing infrastructure

Online Extra: Up-and-Comers in the Outsourcing Race January 30, 2006

India and China still hold the lead, but Russia, Nicaragua, and Botswana are raising the stakes with attractive incentives

Mapping the Way to a Border Flap January 25, 2006

Human-rights organizations have discussed distributing guides to the Arizona desert. Would this encourage Mexicans to illegally immigrate?

Peru's Battle for Its History January 25, 2006 (Commentary)

Artifacts removed from Machu Picchu by a Yale professor in 1911 are the focus of a growing furor. The simple -- and just -- solution: Send them home

"Killer Coke" Or Innocent Abroad? January 23, 2006

Controversy over anti-union violence in Colombia has colleges banning Coca-Cola

Online Extra: Inside Coke's Labor Struggles January 23, 2006

BusinessWeek travels to Colombia to speak with labor leaders, politicians, workers and others who can shed light on the controversy

Channeling the Remittance Flood December 28, 2005

In 2005, migrant workers in the U.S. sent $52 billion back to Latin America and the Caribbean. Now governments are working to leverage that money to promote economic ...

Chávez: Trading Oil For Influence December 26, 2005

Mexico's Elite Has A Message For Politicians December 12, 2005

Fiesta Time For The Bolsa November 28, 2005

Mexico's market is jumping, and foreign investors are enjoying the party

Why Latin America Scorns Uncle Sam November 21, 2005

The U.S. is no longer the role model it once was, and the region's increasingly independent leaders aren't reacting well to Washington's lectures

China and Chile: South America Is Watching November 18, 2005

The two nations' trade accord is a landmark for China, whose thirst for raw materials is fueling the boom in Latin economies

Talk Show: Nice Work, If You’re From Ecuador November 14, 2005

In Colombia, Hope and Havoc November 02, 2005

Despite recent economic gains, the nation remains burdened by endemic poverty, lingering violence, and an uncertain future

El Salvador's Greenback Bind October 17, 2005

Its dollarization in 2001 is seen as a success, but rising rates now pose a threat

Brazil: Playing By The Numbers October 10, 2005

Despite a whirlwind of political scandal, Brazil's economy is proving resilient.

Chile: A Lopsided Miracle October 03, 2005

Growth is strong, but inequality and joblessness remain high in Chile

Chile: An Innovative Incubator October 03, 2005

A Border Transformed August 01, 2005

Since 9/11, officials at the Laredo crossing have had two conflicting goals: Stop terrorists and keep trade flowing

The Mean Streets Of Nuevo Laredo August 01, 2005

Drug trafficking wars are scaring American tourists away -- and eviscerating the economy

Online Extra: Quiet Teamwork on Border Safety August 01, 2005

Mexico's Gerónimo Gutiérrez talks about the "underestimated" Security & Prosperity Partnership of North America

Embracing Illegals July 18, 2005

Companies are getting hooked on the buying power of 11 million undocumented immigrants

Work In The States, Build A Life In Mexico July 18, 2005

Once a month 28-year-old Ignacio Moreno walks to a small storefront on Chicago's West 26th Street and plunks down $380.

The Leftist Who Could Rule Mexico July 04, 2005

"Happiness is about to arrive." That will be Andrés Manuel López Obrador's slogan...

Sister Of Mercy July 04, 2005 (book review)

THE PRISON ANGEL: Mother Antonia's Journey from Beverly Hills to a Life of Service in a Mexican Jail

Central America Is Holding Its Breath June 20, 2005

The U.S. Senate could soon start hearings on the CAFTA trade pact. Right now the votes aren't there

Online Extra: El Salvador's CAFTA Imperative June 20, 2005

President Saca believes a free-trade agreement with the U.S. is essential to his country's and the region's growth and stability

Mexico's Carmakers In A Ditch June 13, 2005

Mexican auto plants are reeling from disastrous U.S. sales. Can they get rolling again?

Madrid's Latin Play Is Paying Off May 16, 2005

Its Latin American index is showing surprising resilience six years after its debut

Commentary: Latin America: The Downside Of People Power May 09, 2005

More Latin Americans are taking to the streets -- and losing faith in the ballot box

The Vatican: Challenges Ahead April 18, 2005

From a priest shortage to shaky finances, the next Pope will be tested

Mexico: This Squeeze Play Could Backfire April 18, 2005

It's 15 months until Mexico's July, 2006, presidential election, and the race is already shaping up as one of the most vicious ever.

The Sage Of Mexico City March 28, 2005

Carlos Slim has a knack for good deals -- including a big stake in MCI

Is Venezuela's Chávez Killing The Golden Goose? March 14, 2005

The President is harming the oil industry to feed his social programs

Online Extra: Q&A with PDVSA Director Del Pino March 14, 2005

The Venezuelan oil company exec discusses higher royalty taxes, coping with 18,000 fewer workers, social-program funding, and more

Mexico: It's Hot South Of The Border March 07, 2005

Fueled by high oil prices, rising exports, and positive developments at home, Mexico's economy is growing at its fastest pace in five years.

Where Security Trumps Trade February 10, 2005

Legitimate worries about the porous Mexican-U.S. border have Washington in a sweat. However, it needs to gripe in a lower key

Life's A Beach For Corona -- Or Is It? February 07, 2005

Sales growth is slowing in the U.S., so Grupo Modelo is searching for better margins and new customers

Mexico: A Pension Patchwork With Big Holes January 31, 2005

Auto mechanic Antonio Flores, 31, has no idea how he's going to get by three decades from now when he retires.

Online Extra: A Lesson in Transparency for Mexico January 17, 2005

SEC charges against TV Azteca and its chairman are a sobering reminder that the country's U.S.-listed companies need to be above-board

Ten Years, and a New Mexico December 17, 2004

In the decade since its worst financial meltdown, amazing progress -- economic and political -- has been made. Still, familiar dangers lurk

Pemex May Be Turning From Gusher To Black Hole December 13, 2004

Mexico's oil giant forks over so much money to the state that it's deeply in debt, and a price drop could set off a crisis

Cracking Down On Corporate Bribery December 06, 2004

With tougher laws in place, prosecutors around the world are bringing high-profile cases

Commentary: How China Opened My Eyes November 08, 2004

An old Mexico hand tours China and is impressed at the nation's fierce drive

Election Lessons from Mexico November 02, 2004

Long the land of totally corrupt voting, America's neighbor has so cleaned up its act that it offers a model worth following

Mexico: Will The PRI Be Top Dog Again? November 01, 2004

Postal worker Patricia Herrera Lopez was one of millions of Mexicans who voted in 2000 to elect President Vicente Fox

Can Televisa Conquer The U.S.? October 04, 2004

Azcárraga envisions a Hispanic media empire stretching from Mexico to Maine

Online Extra: Emilio Azcárraga on "Televisa's Advantage" October 04, 2004

The Mexican network's chairman talks about his plans to broaden his offerings in the U.S. Hispanic market

Made In The Maquilas Again August 16, 2004

A stronger U.S. economy and cheaper peso bring export factories back to life

Why The Bolsa Is Boiling August 09, 2004

Mexican stocks have been on a tear, and some see more room to run

The Heavyweight On Latin Airwaves August 09, 2004

Jerry Perenchio's sprawling Univision network gives him huge Hollywood clout

These ID Tags Get Under Your Skin August 02, 2004

What do lost dogs, mad cows, and the Mexican police have in common? They may all benefit from radio-frequency ID (RFID) tags

Mexico's Middle Class Takes To The Streets July 12, 2004

An estimated half-million Mexicans walked silently through downtown Mexico City...

Citi's Southbound River Of Money July 05, 2004

Will Citi's new cross-border credit card net a big slice of Mexican remittances?

Gas-Rich, Dirt-Poor, Fed Up July 05, 2004

After 20 years of free-market reform, South America's most impoverished country (Bolivia) is growing restless

Online Extra: Q&A with Bolivian President Mesa July 05, 2004

On the job less than a year, he talks at length about the huge challenges ahead, economic, political, and cultural

Online Extra: "Our People Want to Decide Our Own ... Destiny July 05, 2004

Bolivian indigenous leader Evo Morales, a possible presidential candidate, on the causes for the country's social unrest

Chile: Why Bust Doesn't Have To Follow Boom May 31, 2004

Chile's economy has always been vulnerable to big swings in global commodity prices.

Mexico City Gets A Face-Lift May 24, 2004

As the capital spiffs up its historic center, visitors are discovering its cultural treasures

Saving a Colonial Past from Sinking May 24, 2004

Spanish-era structures that have managed to survive so far on Mexico City's former lakebed are getting high-tech lifesaving help....from Carlos Slim, among others.

Emerging-Market Bonds: The Ride Just Got Bumpier May 24, 2004

But many issuers should be able to survive higher rates

Commentary: Democracy On The Ropes May 10, 2004

With corruption and economic woes rising, Latin America is disillusioned

Bracing For The Impact May 03, 2004

Emerging markets are seeking ways to weather a bond sell-off if U.S. rates rise

Truly, A World Of Uncertainty April 19, 2004

Despite growth in China and India, analysts see no safe harbor. Their advice: Tread carefully, very carefully

Mexican Renaissance March 29, 2004 (book review)

Opening Mexico: The Making of a Democracy

The Telecom King Of Latin America? March 29, 2004

On the acquisition trail, Mexico's Carlos Slim is quickly constructing an empire

Latin America: It's In Play Again, Too March 22, 2004

First came the global market swoon. Then a year ago a leftist labor activist rose to the presidency of Brazil, South America's largest economy, and Argentina devalued its peso and defaulted on its foreign debt.

Mexican Standoff For ING March 01, 2004

A tangled court case is causing other foreign investors to think twice

Mexico: Solid Growth, Sluggish Government February 16, 2004

After three years of sluggish or no growth, Mexico's economy is set to expand by 3% to 3.5% in 2004.

The Latin Chill May Get Even Frostier January 26, 2004

Bush's frigid reception at the Monterrey summit may be just the tip of the iceberg, as Latin leaders express doubts about the U.S. agenda

Mexico: Was NAFTA Worth It? (Cover Story) December 22, 2003

A tale of what free trade can and cannot do

Online Extra: It May Be Time for a "NAFTA Plus" December 22, 2003

To reap the pact's true potential, many officials and experts say it needs to be implemented on a broader scale

Online Extra: Fox: "Mexico Is a True Business Partner” December 22, 2003

Mexico's President says the key is to see NAFTA as "an association seeking prosperity among the three countries"

Online Extra: Salinas: "Now Is the Time for Action’ December 22, 2003

The Mexican President who negotiated NAFTA reflects on how the pact has worked and not worked -- and what needs to happen next

Can Western Union Keep On Delivering? December 22, 2003

Wiring money overseas has been a hugely profitable business. But now, rivals are elbowing in, driving the fees down

Where Free Trade Hurts December 15, 2003

Thirty million jobs could disappear with the end of apparel quotas

Where Offshore Funds Are Finding Gems November 03, 2003

In 2003, investors saw sizzling gains in Russia, Thailand, Eastern Europe, and Brazil. And there may be more to come

How to Deal with Immigrant Labor November 03, 2003

Illegal workers from other countries are a critical part of the U.S. economy. Let's make them legal, so everyone can benefit

Mexico: Feeble Growth Calls For Heftier Reforms October 27, 2003

Mexico has not yet benefited from the U.S. growth spurt, and the weak pace emphasizes the need for reforms in labor laws, energy, and taxes.

Leapfrogging Past Long Lines October 20, 2003

Cell-phone use in Nicaragua, as in many other Latin nations, already exceeds that of fixed lines

Online Extra: BellSouth's Latin Ambitions October 20, 2003

Regional President Ralph de la Vega says it has a long-term outlook and a goal of being No. 1 or 2 in each country

Reining in Risk September 29, 2003

Emerging markets are raising capital once again, thanks to some reassuring reforms

Online Extra: Mexico's "Important New Maturity” September 29, 2003

Finance Ministry official Andrés Conesa talks about how much the country has changed since its 1995 peso crisis

Mexico City's Battle to Beat Crime August 20, 2003

Mayor-turned-consultant Rudy Giuliani urges the zero-tolerance model he used to clean up New York, but that prescription may defy translation

Drugmakers Feel the Heat in Mexico August 01, 2003

A proposed law that could speed the delivery of cheaper knockoff drugs is a nightmare for the likes of Merck and Pfizer

Private Equity: Rekindling a Latin Love Affair July 21, 2003

Funds are again funneling money south, especially into Mexico

Emerging Might July 14, 2003

Champions in China, Russia, and elsewhere lure investors

Commentary: In Mexico, Vibrant Democracy Is ... Still a Long Way Off July 14, 2003

The more things change, the more they stay the same. That adage may be on the minds of many Mexicans as they head to the polls

Where to Strike as the Dollar Droops June 30, 2003

While the greenback is down, bourses everywhere are up. But that hardly makes foreign equities a sure thing

Chile: A Giant Step toward Free Trade across the Americas June 16, 2003

Osvaldo Rosales, Chile's chief trade negotiator, smiled when he got the long-awaited phone call. The Bush Administration had at last scheduled the signing of the U.S.-Chile free trade agreement

Online Extra: Chile Has a Clear Export Strategy June 16, 2003

Foreign Minister Maria Soledad Alvear discusses the country's push for free trade agreements and relations with the U.S.

Online Extra: Free Trade "Offers a Climate of Certainty” June 16, 2003

Chile's chief trade negotiator Osvaldo Rosales talks about the many positive effects of finally getting a deal with the U.S.

Wasting Away in Mexico June 02, 2003

Despite SARS, Mexico is still losing export ground to China

A New Face-Off with Cuba May 26, 2003

Cuba-U.S. relations are taking a nasty turn.

Mexico: Why Fox is Working Hard to Win Back his Amigo Bush May 12, 2003.  Less than two years ago, President George W. Bush and Mexican President Vicente Fox were Los Dos Amigos

Why Fidel Picked This Moment to Crack Down April 21, 2003

With the world's attention riveted on the fall of Saddam Hussein, another long-reigning despot has been tightening his grip on the nation he has ruled for 44 years.

Financial Scandal in Chile April 14, 2003

The resignation of respected Chilean Central Bank President Carlos Massad on Mar. 31 over an information-leaking scheme organized by his secretary is unlikely to affect Chile's economic stability, but the scandal is an embarrassment for President Ricardo Lagos.

Mending Fences South of the Border April 07, 2003

U.S.-Mexico relations were a September 11 casualty -- and the Iraq war hasn't helped. Fixing those ties falls to new Ambassador Tony Garza

The US is Wading Deeper into Colombia’s War March 17, 2003

It has been a rough year so far for Colombian President Alvaro Uribe.

Belize: An Ecotourist's Eden February 24, 2003

Where jungles, diving, and archaeology mix

The Sickly Peso Could Give Mexico a Nasty Cold February 17, 2003

Economists worry that it may boost rates and stifle growth

Buy a Toaster, Open a Bank Account January 13, 2003

Banco Azteca caters to the little guy--in appliance stores

Not Much Spice in Latin America January 06, 2003

Investors take note: Improvement in the region's economic picture depends largely on what happens in the U.S. and even more so in Brazil

Commentary: Mexico: Time to Get over the Anti-Gringo Grudges December 23, 2002

The former leaders of the U.S., Mexico, and Canada met in Washington on Dec. 9 and 10 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

A Shocker from the Oil Patch December 20, 2002

An escalating strike in opposition to Venezuela's president is doing much more to drive up oil prices than a looming war with Iraq

Coke: The Cost of Babying Bottlers December 09, 2002

Can CEO Daft ease their plight and please Wall Street, too?

In Mexico's Drug War, Fox Is Actually ...Winning Some Battles November 25, 2002

His anti-narcotics drive is drawing applause from Washington

Mexico's Farmers Are Getting Plowed Under November 18, 2002

With tariffs disappearing, U.S. exports may soar

Commentary: Latin America: Is Lula's Third ...Way Doomed? October 21, 2002

His ability to bring reform to Brazil will be hamstrung by budget restrictions

The Busiest Market in Mexico October 21, 2002

Suddenly, more domestic bonds give business a boost

Mexico's War of the Megastores September 16, 2002

Wal-Mart is trouncing Mexican rivals, but they haven't given up

For Coffee Growers, Not Even a Whiff of Profits September 09, 2002

Is Starbucks Corp. (SBUX ) profiting at the expense of the poor--that is, the poverty-stricken coffee farmers...

Latin America: The Highest Stakes in Town September 09, 2002

The only semi-safe bet is Mexico

Commentary: Fast-Track Authority: Don't ...Underestimate its Clout August 12, 2002

With Congress on the cusp of granting the President a freer hand in negotiating trade deals, George W. Bush is wasting no time.

Commentary: Down in the Dumps in Latin America July 29, 2002

With growth slumping, is the region headed for another "lost decade"?

Emerging Markets: What Recession? July 15, 2002

Russia and South Korea, especially, are making waves

Venezuela: Why Chávez Could Soon Be Gone--Again July 08, 2002

Embattled Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez is taking no chances. Two months after a short-lived coup removed him from power for 48 hours...

The Tax Games Tyco Played July 01, 2002

It made an art form of avoidance, but a climate shift has opened the door to harsher scrutiny

Citigroup's Mexican Adventure June 24, 2002

Its Banamex subsidiary is thriving in Mexico and luring Hispanic consumers in the U.S.

Why Mexico's Lenders Aren't Lending June 24, 2002

It should be an ideal scenario for a Mexican home-buyer seeking a mortgage. Benchmark rates have dropped from around 19% to 7% in just 16 months.

Mexico: Say Adios to the Super Peso June 17, 2002

Mexico's exporters are breathing easier after the peso's 5.1% devaluation since April.

Talk Show May 13, 2002

The U.S. doesn't exactly roll out a red carpet for Mexican immigrants, but banks these days are sparing no effort to garner their business.

Talk Show May 06, 2002

Tequila with a Twist: Will the real Cuervos stand up?

The Decline of the Maquiladora April 29, 2002

The government isn't moving to rescue a troubled industry

Emerging Markets: No Longer Down and Out April 29, 2002

Many of these bourses have regained their shine

Talk Show April 08, 2002.

Mexico, That High-Cost Country

Ouch! It's Superpeso April 01, 2002

Mexico's muscular currency is taking a toll on business

Mexico's Electric Power Struggle March 25, 2002

The debate over privatizing electricity is coming to a head

Emerging Markets: Time to Shape Up March 11, 2002

CalPERS sets tough new governance and financial standards

Can Bimbo Cook in the U.S.? March 04, 2002

Its latest buy gives it rights to well-known American brands

Mexico: Bracing for a Wave of Foreign Investment February 25, 2002

Mexico is still mired in a recession, but spirits are high following Standard & Poor's Feb. 7 upgrade of the country's sovereign-debt rating to investment grade.

Commentary: Fox's Mexican Corruption Hunt ... February 11, 2002

If Pemexgate fails to produce results, Fox's reform agenda will stall out

A Wrong Turn in Argentina? January 21, 2002

The country's crisis may get much worse

Online Extra: Q&A: "We've Finally Bitten the Bullet.. January 21, 2002

Martin Redrado's job is to rebuild international confidence in Argentina's economy. Here's what he thinks it'll take

Damage Control in Buenos Aires January 11, 2002

An insider's take on how Argentina's new President will try to quell tensions surrounding the debt crisis

The Grapes of Wrath, Mexican-Style (book review) December 31, 2001.

Crossing Over: A Mexican Family on the Migrant Trail

The Case for Faith in Latin America December 31, 2001

Mexico is one good bet, but there are others, too

Monsanto's Genetically Modified Comeback December 24, 2001

As the ag-biotech turns a corner, it sees independence up ahead

Turning Greenbacks into Greenhouses November 26, 2001

A matching grant program puts migrants' remittances to work

Mexico: Congress Faces a Taxing Time November 19, 2001

Fiscal reform has been a top priority of President Vicente Fox since he took office a year ago.

Why Is This Bolsa Holding Up So Well? November 12, 2001

As investors flee other Latin markets, Mexico looks strong

Offshore Funds: Fleeing Risk November 05, 2001

Our annual survey of the 500 largest offshore funds shows value investing has returned

Online Extra: Commentary: Harsh History ... November 05, 2001 In '70s and '80s, the region's citizens suffered twice: From brutal terrorism and from ruthless government campaigns to end it

Why Is This Bolsa Holding Up So Well? November 02, 2001 As investors flee other Latin markets, Mexico's looks strong -- even though the country's economy is slowing down

What's at Stake October 22, 2001

How terrorism threatens the global economy

Look Who's Stepping on Mexican Shoemakers' Toes October 22, 2001

A decade ago, José Luis Mares followed in the path of his grandfather and father into the footwear business. He set up shop in León, the "shoe capital" of Mexico

Terrorism and the Global Economy October 12, 2001 Even as leaders warn against gloom, it's evident that the climate of uncertainty is crimping the free flow of capital, goods, and people

Understanding a New World of Uncertainty and Risk October 08, 2001

Not knowing what comes next is spooking business and the markets

Online Extra: Q with Mexico's Francisco Gil Díaz October 01, 2001 The Finance & Public Credit Secretary talks about Mexico's economy and the possible impact of the terrorist attacks in America

Mexico's Wagon Is Hitched to a Falling Star October 01, 2001 A U.S. recession would hurt even worse south of the border

Spotlight on the U.S.-Mexico Border September 10, 2001 A viable plan on immigration tops the Bush-Fox agenda

Online Extra: Q&A with Mexico's Jorge Castaneda September 10, 2001 The Foreign Minister expects the U.S. and Mexico to reach a landmark agreement on easing immigration restrictions by early 2002

Who Says the Chips Are Down? September 03, 2001 Despite the slump, Costa Rica sees a bright future in technology

Hewlett-Packard (in Costa Rica) August 27, 2001

Amid the cow pastures and potato fields of San Joaquin Cutris, a remote Costa Rican village with 500 residents, one telephone line, and neither a doctor nor post office, sits what some Hewlett-Packard Co. executives believe may be the Information Age's Next Big Thing.

Mexico: Clinging to Frayed U.S. Coattails August 13, 2001

Mexico is struggling with the drag coming from the slowdown in the U.S., its biggest trading partner.

Is the Magic Starting to Fade for Manufacturing in Mexico? August 06, 2001

Rivals threaten the country's appeal as a high-tech hub

Mexico: What Happened to Fox's Management Skills? July 16, 2001

A year ago, a businessman-turned-politician walked away with Mexico's top job by portraying himself as a top-notch manager.

NAFTA's Scorecard: So Far, So Good July 09, 2001

The pact created jobs on both sides of the border--and didn't cause as much damage as critics feared

Savia: A Seed Empire Withers on the Vine June 11, 2001

Entrepreneur Alfonso Romo may see his biotech dreams fade

Sandy Weill Wants the World June 04, 2001

The Banamex deal is just part of Citi's global push

Citigroup's Surprise Mexican Marriage May 18, 2001

Observers didn't think Banamex would accept a foreign suitor, least of all the U.S. giant, but $12.5 billion brought it to the altar

The U.S. Coughs--and Mexico May Catch a Cold May 07, 2001

Being the U.S.'s second-largest trading partner is both a blessing and a curse.

So Far, Fox Can't Rally His Own Troops May 7, 2001

The PAN may help kill a crucial tax-reform program

The Super Banks of Spain April 23, 2001

Two battle-hardened powerhouses are poised to take a run at Europe

Betting on Free Trade April 23, 2001

George Bush wants to turn North and South America into the world's biggest single market. Is it for real--or just a dream?

Q&A: Chile's Socialist Leader Is Betting on the ...New Economy. April 02, 2001

President Lagos talks about how to keep Chile on track

Commentary: Pemex: Still in the Dark Ages March 26, 2001

Look around Latin America, and you'll see that investment in the oil business has been booming in recent years.

Guerrillas in Their Midst March 13, 2001

Subcommander Marcos and his Zapatistas arrive -- unarmed -- in Mexico City to begin a dialogue with Vicente Fox's new government

Archive of articles prior to 2001 under construction:

From 2000:

Car Power (int’l edition) Cover Story) Oct. 23, 2000

With trade barriers falling, Latin America's auto industry is entering a new era

Mexican Workers Deserve Better than This-Commentary-Sept 11 2000.pdf

Mexico's workers are finally starting to see real wage improvement--something they've been waiting for since the 1994 peso devaluation. (trying to fix this link glitch)

Mexican Revolution (cover story) July 17, 2000

What Vicente Fox's upset victory means for Mexico's economy, society, and politics

Mexico: Will It Vote for Change?(cover story) July 3, 2000

Why the long-ruling PRI may finally fall

Mexico's Bankers Are Backing Fox's Run March 06, 2000

In a warning to the ruling party, the PRI's Labastida isn't getting nearly the approval that the PAN insurgent is.

Slim's New World (int’l edition)(Cover story) Feb. 21, 2000

Mexico's richest man is betting big on U.S. computer retailing

Online: Carlos Slim: "The Key Is the Internet" Feb. 21, 2000

The Mexican mogul talks about his business philosophy -- and his plans to put Mexico in the vanguard of the digital revolution

From 1999:

Mexico: Breaking the Curse (int'l edition)(Cover story) Dec. 20, 1999

You can usually count on a presidential election to clobber Mexico's economy. This time, though, the country may avert a crisis. (To see sidebar stories (listed below), look at the right side of the main story on the webpage)

--A Microscope Maker Takes a Global View

--'Why Did They Have to Mess It All Up?'

--Finance Minister Gurria: Toward Democratic Normality

--Mexico's Central Banker: 'It Doesn't Matter Who Wins'

A Bunch of Angry Mexican Shareholders June 28, 1999

They’re raging at TV Azteca’s boss, Ricardo Salinas

Concrete Benefits from a Plunge into Cyberspace  Apr. 20, 1999

Mexico's Cemex, the giant cement maker, is linking clients, suppliers, and execs worldwide over the Net in one of the most advanced company networks anywhere

From 1998:

Mexico’s Makeover (in’l edition) (Cover Story) Dec. 21, 1998

Five years after NAFTA, the country is turning into an industrial power, whose workers and exports are becoming increasingly sophisticated.

Latin America’s New Business Elite (int'l edition) (Cover story) Oct. 26, 1998

A young crew of gifted managers, financiers, and policymakers is meeting the crisis with skill and energy

OPINION SHAPER_ XOCHITL GALVEZ RUIZ (int'l edition) 10_26_98 .pdf. Oct. 26, 1998

The year was 1994. Mexican executives were leaping at business

opportunities they thought would catapult them into the First World under

the new North American Free Trade Agreement.

COMMENTARY: MEXICO: ZEDILLO HAS TO SWEEP THE BANKS CLEAN (int'l edition) June 1, 1998

Of Mexico's many scandals in recent years, none has more potential for undermining confidence in the country's leaders, and in its banking system, than the allegations of money laundering in the U.S. by officers of 12 of Mexico's banks.

From 1997:

THE NEW LATIN CORPORATION (int'l edition) (Cover story) Oct. 27, 1997

They're aggressive, they're technologically savvy, and they're looking beyond national borders. Meet the fast-growing stars of a wide-open region.

SOFTTEK: MEXICO'S 'HIGH-TECH MAQUILADORAS' (sidebar to cover story) Oct. 27, 1997

Gerardo Lopez Garcia is a man in a hurry.... Lopez, 46, is pioneering a new Latin industry: custom-designed software for companies around the globe.

THE BORDER (Cover story) May 12, 1997

What may be North America's hottest growth zone is blossoming where Mexico and the U.S. meet. A quirk of the global economy, it is also--for better or worse--a world unto itself

WHERE THE OLD WAYS PRODUCE THE NEWEST CHIC DRINK.pdf  Feb. 3, 1997

At 2 a.m., Eustorgio Santos Rosales sets fire to a pile of mesquite and oak logs. He watches them for several hours until the wood turns into crackling red-hot embers.

From 1996:

FUJIMORI_ A NEW KIND OF STRONGMAN (int'l edition).pdf (int'l edition) Sept. 23, 1996

The populist technocrat is tightening his grip on power. Also see interview: The President as Micromanager: A Talk with Fujimori.

Mexican Banks Pull Out of a Dive  Sept. 2, 1996, p. 56 (link to come)

CATCHING UP WITH CARLOS SALINAS.pdf July 15, 1996

The former President talks with BusinessWeek’s Geri Smith about his life in exile.

No one recognizes the diminutive man as he strolls the historic streets of Dublin, a tweed cap protecting his balding pate. He strides into a hotel bar to greet a visitor, and not one head turns. That's the way Carlos Salinas de Gortari prefers it.

COMMENTARY_ ZEDILLO HAD BETTER CLEAN UP THE CESSPOOL.pdf Feb. 12, 1996

Things in Mexico keep getting curiouser and curiouser. This time, a close associate of Raul Salinas, brother of former President Carlos Salinas de Gortari, is saying that the $84 million discovered in Raul's secret Swiss bank accounts is really a venture-capital fund.

From 1995:

`SALINAS' IS FAST BECOMING A DIRTY WORD.pdf    Dec. 25, 1995

The December jitters have hit Mexico again. Last year, it was the currency crisis and economic collapse. This year, the growing scandal surrounding the family of former President Carlos Salinas de Gortari has the country on edge.

Mexico: A Rough Road Back (Cover story) Nov. 13, 1995

Big strides are being made. But will hardship derail Zedillo's reform train?

ZEDILLO HITS THE ROAD   April 3, 1995

The jet pulled up to the Durango Airport terminal and Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de Len strode down the steps to the beat of a military band.

THE FALL OF CARLOS SALINAS  March 27, 1995

On Mar. 10, a short, balding man boarded the corporate jet of his godfather, a Mexican tortilla baron. The doors closed, and the plane took off into the northern sky carrying its passenger to what appeared to be a lengthy exile in the U.S.

THE MEXICAN RESCUE IS DANGLING FROM A CLIFF  (Cover story) March 20, 1995

Two managing directors from Soros Fund Management made the rounds in Mexico City recently, quietly consulting with politicians, bankers, and a vice-governor of the country's beleaguered central bank. Among their questions: How would the market react if Mexico defaulted on its more than $20 billion in tesobonos, the dollar-denominated bonds whose repayment has been at the root of Mexico's worsening financial crisis?

From 1994:

WHAT HAS NAFTA WROUGHT? PLENTY OF TRADE Nov. 20, 1994

Trucks are rumbling back and forth across the U.S.-Mexico border, carrying tomatoes, chewing gum, Ford Broncos, electric generators, and Maybelline mascara at a feverish clip.

CARDOSO WINS A BATTLE. NOW THE WAR BEGINS  Oct. 17, 1994

At Fernando Henrique Cardoso's campaign headquarters in So Paulo, backers hailed his victory in Brazil's Oct. 3 presidential election.

Mexico’s No-Frills Mogul March 7, 1994

(This was the first time Carlos Slim granted an interview to a foreign journalist)

The last thing Carlos Slim could be called is extravagant. The 54-year-old son of Lebanese immigrants didn't get to be one of Mexico's handful of billionaires by throwing money around.

From 1993:

THIS VENTURE IS COOKING WITH GAS  (Cover story) Nov. 8, 1993

An engineer huddles over an Apollo workstation from Hewlett-Packard, designing parts for a gas-range prototype.

Is Democracy Bad for Growth? June 7, 1993

The time was July, 1959, and the place was the American exhibit in Moscow.

The Mexican Worker (cover story) April 19, 1993

Arturo Arriaga closes the sheet of steel he uses for a door, fastens a chain, and snaps shut the padlock. The 23-year-old Monterrey worker can't afford much more than a spare cinder-block house with no phone. Still, he considers himself on the fast track.

From 1992:

BRAVE NEW FINANCIAL WORLD (Cover story) June 15, 1992

Lunchtime crowds on Calle San Martin in Buenos Aires jostle for a view of the financial data displayed in windows of the exchange houses and brokerages. Just two years ago, their concern was how fast Argentina's currency was falling.

More articles to come.