Economy of Latin America Free enterprise with elements

Economy of Latin America • Free enterprise with elements of socialism in most countries • By 2050 the largest economies in the world will be China, United States, India, Brazil, & Mexico. • Poverty is one of this region’s main challenges – esp. in Haiti, Nicaragua, Bolivia, & Honduras

Economy of Latin America • Very large gap between the wealthy & the poor in Latin America, maintained by: • Landed elites • Government policies • Centralized wealth in cities • Exploitation of workers (i. e. , maquiladoras)

Economy of Latin America • Subsistence farming and cottage industries are common throughout rural areas. • Mineral riches: • Silver (Mexico) • Emeralds (Colombia & Brazil) • Petroleum (Mexico & Venezuela)

Economy • Ecotourism – What is it? • Ecotourism is important to Costa Rica, Ecuador • Why isn’t this a bigger industry in Colombia?

Altitudinal zonation is found in this region. • Farming and hunting (Atlantic nations) • Sugar cane, cacao and rice (tropical areas) • Grains & livestock (plains/plateaus) • Coffee, coca & potatoes (higher elevations)

Grassy Pampas of Argentina are the source of much of that country’s wealth. Considered the “breadbasket of Argentina. ” What economic activity occurs here?

Human Development Index • • • Dark Blue = Very high (Argentina, Chile, French Guiana) Blue = Medium (Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Cuba, Panama) Light Blue = Low (Bolivia, Paraguay, Dominican Republic, most of Central America) White = Very low (Haiti) Grey = data unavailable

Energy Resources • Mexico & Venezuela: Oil • Many rivers & waterfalls = hydroelectric power • The Atacama desert: rich copper deposits • Many other mineral resources in LA. Lake Maricaibo in Venezuela Itaipu Dam Brazil

Population • What do these pyramids say about Latin America? • What type of population? • What challenges do they face?

Major rural to urban movement of people in this region.

Cities Mexico City Havana Port-au-Prince Panama City Lima Brasilia Rio De Janiero Santiago Buenos Aires

Mexico City Largest megacity in the Western hemisphere

Manaus is the largest city in the Amazon rainforest. Opera House in Manaus

Buenos Aires is the largest city in Latin America if you don’t factor in suburbs/surrounding area

Slums on the outskirts of major cities are common Favelas outside of Rio Poor people live here to work in low-paying jobs – no access to urban prosperity

Latin America Political Systems • Latin America is made up mostly of “presidential republics”. • However, most governments are very corrupt.

Colombia has significant issues with corrupt government (and businesses) as a result of drug trade.

Colombia

• • Gauchos/Argentina

Easter Island Santiago Scenes from Chile

Scenes in Peru Photos by Linda Hammon

Andean Condor

Lima Cuzco Photos by Linda Hammon

Cuzco, Peru Photos by Linda Hammon

Some of the indigenous Amerindian groups today