Peru’s story in the past 20 years has gone from fast growth and poverty reduction to fractious politics and a dwindling economy. In this episode, Alfredo Thorne, a former finance minister (2016-2017), makes the case for how the country could get back on track to restore growth and distribute it more fairly between rich and poor, Lima and the rest of the country. In his view, high copper prices and new ports expected to be inaugurated soon provide that opportunity, despite the risks associated with a dependency on commodities for development.
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Guest:
Alfredo Thorne is an economist, a former finance minister of Peru (2016-2017) and principal director at Thorne & Associates, a Lima-based advisory firm.
Host:
Brian Winter is the editor-in-chief of Americas Quarterly
If you’d like to know more:
Can Copper Prices and Nearshoring Restart Peru’s Economic Dynamism? by Alfredo Thorne
What Caused Peru’s Economic Downfall? by Alfredo Thorne
AQ Podcast: An X-Ray of Peru’s Tinderbox
Peru’s Next Generation of Leaders Is Leaving by Andrea Monada