Chinese influence in Latin America will increase

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Private Sector ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Security Risks ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Latin American Countries ◽  
Robust Response

Significance This robust response, which contrasts with low-key and smaller-scale US reactions, is a testament to China’s economic and diplomatic standing, which in recent years has become more generalised in the region. Impacts China’s regional footprint will continue to transform towards technology-intensive sectors and private-sector-driven engagement. Governments will need to be more strategic to seize opportunities while limiting environmental, social and security risks. Latin American countries will increasingly find themselves caught in the middle of US-China tensions.

European franchise expansion into Latin America

2015 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Verónica Baena
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Political Stability ◽  
Market Potential ◽  
Geographical Distance ◽  
Market Conditions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Latin American Countries

Purpose This study aims to enhance the knowledge that managers and scholars have on franchising expansion. In this sense, it is worth mentioning that although the body of literature on international management focusing on emerging markets is growing, the attention paid to the Latin American context continues to be limited. This is surprising given the substantive economic importance of the region with a population over 590 million, and a gross domestic product of approximately US$5 trillion. To cover this gap, the present study examines how a number of market conditions may drive diffusion of franchising into Latin America: geographical distance, cultural distance, political stability and economic development. The authors also controlled for the host country’s market potential, transparency, unemployment rate and efficiency of contract enforcement. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a quantitative approach applied to a sample of 77 Spanish franchisors operating through 4,064 franchisee outlets across 21 Latin American countries in late 2012. They are: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Bolivia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay and Venezuela. Findings Results conclude that geographical distance between the host and home countries, as well as the level of host country’s political stability, economic development, market potential and transparency are able to drive the spread of international franchising across Latin American nations. Research limitations/implications This study provides readers with a general overview of the current state of global franchising diffusion overseas. Results obtained in this study are useful for understanding and predicting the demand for franchising in Latin American countries. Practical implications Economics reports argue that by 2050, the largest economies in the world will be China, the USA, India, Brazil and Mexico. This fact highlights the substantive importance of Latin America for foreign investors willing to expand their business abroad. In an attempt to give insights from the Latin American context, the present paper develops and tests a model that can be useful to franchisors willing to establish new outlets in the region. In addition, our findings offer guidance to firm managers seeking to target their franchises in Latin America. Franchisors may then use the results of this study as a starting point for identifying such regions whose characteristics best meet their needs of expansion. Originality/value This paper explores how market conditions may drive international diffusion of franchising into Latin American markets. The scant theoretical or empirical attention given to this topic has usually been examined from the USA and British base and focused on developed markets. To fill this gap, the present study analyzes the international spread of the Spanish franchise system into Latin America as a market for franchising expansion.

scholarly journals Intangible assets and business performance in Latin America

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernanda Cristina Lopes ◽  
Luciana Carvalho
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Intangible Assets ◽  
Business World ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Intangible Resources ◽  
New Knowledge ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Latin American Countries

Purpose The intangible assets of a company have been presented by national and international surveys as a resource to influence the creation of value and the increase in organizational performance. In view of this, this study aims to analyze the relationship between intangibility and the performance of companies in Latin America. Design/methodology/approach For this purpose, multiple regression with panel data was used and three perspectives for measuring intangible resources were defined: representativeness of the intangible asset, accounting measure for measuring the intangible, degree of intangibility and Tobin’ Q, the latter two representing economic and financial measures to determine intangibility. The study covered the period from 2011 to 2017 with a sample of 1,236 publicly traded companies located in some Latin American countries, namely, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. Findings The results demonstrated the existence of a significant and positive relationship between the variables of intangibility, degree of intangibility and Tobin’s Q, and the performance variables, return on assets, operating margin and asset turnover, reinforcing the study hypothesis that the greater the investment in intangible resource, the greater the company’s performance. Research limitations/implications The limitations of this study involve the lack of complete information about intangible resources in the financial statements of some companies and some countries, making it hard to analyze the proposed relationship more broadly and accurately. Another limitation involves the causal relationship that may have existed between the regressors of the models defined in the study and their error, thus generating an endogeneity problem in the proposed models. It is recommended for future research to use specific methods to mitigate possible problems of endogeneity in regressions. Practical implications Mainly the possibility of deepening the relationship between intangibility and business performance, thus obtaining new knowledge through the reflexes of this relationship on companies in Latin American countries, finding more consistent results. Social implications The study contributes to the decision-making process in the business world by informing the primary users of accounting information such as investors, administrators, accountants, regulators and creditors. Originality/value This research contributes by addressing a theme whose studies present many gaps, making it possible to deepen the relationship between intangibility and business performance and gain new knowledge through the reflexes of this relationship on companies in Latin American countries.

Informality will limit tax options in Bolivia and Peru

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Informal Sector ◽  
Income Tax ◽  
Tax Base ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Common Features ◽  
Alternative Sources ◽  
Market Liberalisation ◽  
Latin American Countries

Subject Labour informality and the tax base. Significance Peru and Bolivia are among the Latin American countries with the highest levels of informality in their employment structures. Informality takes various forms, but one of its common features is escape from the tax net. In the pursuit of raising government incomes, various policies are being adopted to draw firms into formality and make them pay income tax and social security contributions. Impacts A large informal sector is likely to persist longer in Peru and Bolivia than most other countries in Latin America. A protracted downturn in tax revenues from extractives may force authorities to tap into alternative sources of revenue. The scale of illicit activity, not least in drug-related activities, will continue to be an obstacle to reducing informality. Political opposition will militate against radical labour market liberalisation.

Key factors in tourism management to improve competitiveness in Latin America

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
José Manuel Guaita Martínez ◽  
Paula Serdeira Azevedo ◽  
José María Martín Martín ◽  
Rosa María Puertas Medina
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Transport Infrastructure ◽  
Distance Method ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Synthetic Indicator ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Latin American Countries

PurposeThis paper analyzes tourism competitiveness in Latin America, providing a country-level ranking of tourism competitiveness. The study also identifies which areas of management to focus on in order to increase competitiveness in each case.Design/methodology/approachThe study is based on the variables used by the World Economic Forum (WEF) to measure tourism competitiveness. The DP2 distance method is used to create a synthetic indicator. This method helps identify which areas best explain differences in competitiveness between countries.FindingsIn tourism, the most competitive Latin American countries are Costa Rica, Chile, Panama, Mexico and Uruguay. The areas that best explain the differences between countries relate to cultural and natural resources, the implementation of information and communication technologies (ICTs), international openness and transport infrastructure. These are therefore priority areas for tourism managers.Practical implicationsThis paper provides detailed analysis for each country. The situation in each country is presented in terms of the key areas highlighted by the analysis. This approach can aid the individual decisions of companies and public managers, thus enhancing tourism competitiveness. This greater competitiveness can strengthen the tourism sector, which is crucial in uncertain times.Originality/valueBased on a synthetic indicator, this research offers the first country-level analysis of tourism competitiveness in Latin America. The study is also novel in its ability to detect the areas where action should be taken to improve tourism competitiveness. This analysis offers an alternative to the WEF Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI), which has certain weaknesses. The results can help enhance tourism competitiveness in Latin American countries through the specific recommendations presented in this paper.

Corporate governance and firm performance in Latin America: a meta-analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 195-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Flávia Schwartz Maranho ◽  
Ricardo Leal
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Latin America ◽  
Firm Performance ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Boards Of Directors ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Shareholder Wealth ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Latin American Countries

Purpose The relationship between the role played by corporate governance (CG) mechanisms and shareholder wealth is an important and mature topic in some countries and regions. However, despite the considerable number of studies, the results are still inconclusive. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the debate around the theme in Latin America through a meta-analysis. Design/methodology/approach The study used meta-analytic procedures to review 42 articles produced by researchers from Latin American countries, whose samples were composed of Latin American firms. Findings The results suggest that CG best practices are associated with better Latin American firm performance. The evidence also suggests that results are moderated by the characteristics of boards of directors, the ownership, and control structure and various simultaneous CG mechanisms, through broad indices and special CG trading segments. Originality/Value The relationship between GC and firm performance possesses certain peculiarities in the case of Latin American countries and the literature on the region is certainly not as abundant and mature. As most of the articles reviewed were written in Portuguese and Spanish and published in local journals, the consolidation produced should also be useful for researchers throughout the world by enabling them to access their ideas.

A synthetic indicator of corruption for Latin America: a global vision

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 194-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gilberto Cardenas Cardenas ◽  
Sofía García Gamez ◽  
Alvaro Salas Suarez
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Statistical Information ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Synthetic Indicator ◽  
Global Vision ◽  
Available Information ◽  
Latin American Countries

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop an overview of the phenomenon of corruption in Latin America and to propose a synthetic aggregate indicator to compress most of the statistical information available on corruption for Latin American countries. Design/methodology/approach The indicator of corruption has been obtained through factor analysis by applying the principal component methodology. Findings The authors have managed to obtain a single component that reproduces and synthesizes 86 per cent of all the information about corruption in Latin America gathered by prestigious institutions. Research limitations/implications The authors are aware that their study is not free from limitations. The first limitation is associated with the impossibility of incorporating information related to the phenomenon of corruption from the indicator called Latinobarómetro, as the economies of Cuba and Haiti (included in this research) are not part of the sample analyzed by that indicator. Second, this study reproduces and synthesizes 86 per cent of all available information by prestigious institutions about corruption in Latin America, and although this percentage is significant, it does not constitute 100 per cent. Originality/value This study has created a new indicator that gathers methodologies to measure corruption in Latin American countries.

Life expectancy and trade openness: causality in Latin America

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (10) ◽  
pp. 1265-1281
Author(s):  
Mert Akyuz ◽  
Cagin Karul ◽  
Ibrahim Demir
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Granger Causality ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Trade Openness ◽  
Specific Region ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Latin American Countries

PurposeThe aim of this research is to investigate the causal relationship between trade openness (TO) and life expectancy (LE) at birth in Latin American countries over the period of 1980–2014.Design/methodology/approachThe bootstrap panel Granger causality test proposed by Emirmahmutoglu and Kose (2011) was used to determine the direction of causality in the presence of cross-sectional dependency and heterogeneity among Latin American countries. Also, four different tests were employed in order to determine the cross-sectional dependency and slope homogeneity. The stationarity properties of variables were inspected by employing a unit root test.FindingsThe findings indicated that Granger causality existed between TO and LE, at birth which was running from the former to the latter for panel. On a country basis, TO Granger caused LE at birth for countries with low level of economic development and higher taxes on income and profits.Practical implicationsThis study provides new insights for policymaking regarding the role of TO in achieving comprehensive economic reforms to increase LE at birth during a period of intense trade rivalry across nations.Originality/valueAlthough research in the literature has mainly focused on the impact of TO on LE at birth with panel data, most studies ignored the regional effects. It is the authors’ concern that the direction of causality can be country-specific and have regional characteristics. In this regard, instead of dividing countries for a specific region into two parts such as developing and developed, the authors investigated the pattern of trade–health link for a specific region, Latin America.

Costs drive US retirement migration to Latin America

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Latin America ◽  
Economic Impact ◽  
Latin American ◽  
The United States ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Retirement Communities ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Retirement Migration ◽  
Latin American Countries

Subject The growth of Latin America as a destination for foreign retirees. Significance Several Latin American countries offer incentives to encourage foreigners -- particularly from the United States -- to retire there. While this is still a relatively small-scale phenomenon, it has been growing over recent years and has a significant economic impact in areas where retirees are concentrated. Impacts Latin American countries offer increasingly generous incentives to encourage retirees to settle there. Any increase in political instability in destination countries would stem the flow of retirees quickly and dramatically. Cultural and language barriers will be a major deterrent despite the growth of retirement communities.

Latin American countries in the BRI: challenges and potential implications for economic development

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana Gonzalez Jauregui
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Financial Integration ◽  
Policy Coordination ◽  
Chinese Foreign Policy ◽  
Controversial Issues ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Latin American Countries

PurposeAccording to official statements, BRI is a Chinese call for global cooperation, based on five priorities: policy coordination, facilities connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration and people-to-people bonds. The purpose of this paper is, primarily, to describe and contextualize the official discourse of China's foreign policy toward Latin America, emphasizing on BRI. On that basis, the author aims to contrast official rhetoric with real facts, bringing problematic cases associated with implementing BRI in Asian and African developing countries, so as to discuss possible challenges that Latin America can encounter when implementing the initiative. Finally, the author evaluates potential implications of resembling the Chinese three-level scheme of development in the region and make suggestions on this subject.Design/methodology/approachIn an effort to evaluate possible implications of BRI in Latin America, the paper describes and contextualizes Chinese foreign policy official rhetoric toward the region's countries. Based on that, the author brings to discussion Asian and African experiences in the implementation of the initiative and raise questions on controversial issues that Latin America could meet when enforcing BRI-related projects.FindingsAs a part of its new foreign and economic policies, China continues to strengthen its engagement with Latin American countries, enlarging its strategy though the promotion of BRI. If Latin American countries, through BRI, seek to replicate the Chinese three-level of development scheme, including domestic, regional and global scopes, certain controversial issues cannot be ignored in the design and implementation processes. Also, equal participation of Chinese and Latin American governments, societies and enterprises is decisive if the goal is to settle a long-term development scenario for the region.Originality/valueThe central thesis of this paper is that the implementation of BRI in Latin American countries could potentially replicate the Chinese three-level development proposal. To achieve such an ambitious goal, much depends on how Latin American countries define and enforce BRI projects. Full understanding of those challenges requires close attention to what the Chinese official rhetoric claims and what actually puts into practice in other developing countries already involved in BRI, so as to anticipate possible consequences for the region.

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