Monday, February 8, 2016

It Keeps On Getting Worse In Venezuela

Students take part in a rally against President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas on Nov. 21, 2015. Carlos Garcia Rawlins, Reuters

Juan Cristobal Nagel, Foreign Policy: Venezuela Is About to Go Bust

Venezuela’s economy is facing a tsunami of bad news. The country is suffering from the world’s deepest recession, highest inflation rate, and highest credit risk — all problems aggravated by plunging oil prices. Despite all its troubles, though, until now Venezuela has kept making payments on its $100-billion-plus foreign debt.

That is about to end. In recent days a consensus has emerged among market analysts: Venezuela will have to default. The only question is when.

A Venezuela meltdown could rock financial markets, and people around the world will lose a lot of money. But we should all save our collective sympathy — both the government in Caracas and the investors who enabled it had it coming.

In the last few years, the Venezuelan government has been steadfast about staying in good graces with its lenders. It has paid arrears on its debt religiously, and has constantly asserted that it will continue paying.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: What caught my attention this weekend was this BBC report .... Venezuela shopping centres halve opening times as crisis bites (BBC). This reminds me of the old Soviet Union, and I can predict that the next step for these stores is that they will soon open only when they can.

More News On Venezuela's Economic Crisis

Venezuela's Economic Catastrophe Isn't About To Happen, It Has Happened -- Tim Worstall, Forbes
Venezuela flirts with default, could be worse than Argentina -- CNBC
Venezuela Default Worse than Argentina? -- Latin Post
The Death Throes of Venezuela -- Rick Moran, PJ Media

1 comment:

Don Bacon said...

re: "crisis bites"--Drought is causing electricity shortages.