How OPEC Became Irrelevant: Traditional Oil Producing Countries Still Fail to Face the New Reality

The large traditional oil-producing countries — both OPEC and non-OPEC — are still catching up with the new reality. After deciding to extend the production cuts — agreed upon half a year ago — for another nine months, oil prices plunged below $50/barrel. Not quite the effect these oil giants were hoping for, but nothing out of the ordinary. After all, the fact is that supply and demand dynamics in the oil market have changed for good.

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Does the Fed Follow Its Own Rules?

One of the most interesting discussions in the field of monetary theory concerns the role central banks play in the economy. There are multiple views regarding different issues: from questioning the mere existence of the central bank to the actual role a central bank should take.

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Cheap Oil and Why OPEC Can’t Do Anything About It

Beyond the behavior of speculators or OPEC—which some consider a cartel, if there is anything we can learn is that the fall in oil prices responds to the forces of supply and demand. On the demand side, lower economic activity throughout the world, specially in China, has lowered the price of oil. Projections by the International Energy Agency show how demand weakened in 2014, although it rebounded in 2016.

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Beyond the Bitcoin Hype: Limitations of Bitcoin and Blockchain Technology

A lot has been written about the benefits of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and blockchain technology. Blockchain technology will no doubt revolutionize the world. It should be no coincidence that one of our recent guests to Universidad Francisco Marroquín, Nick Szabo, has labeled blockchain technology “the Napster of finance.” While recognizing the value of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology,

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Mexico’s Complex Investment Panorama

Mexico is going through a complex scenario, both in its internal and external environment. Last year was one of the most complicated ones for the Mexican peso. And things remain unclear for 2017: external factors influenced mainly by the US electoral process and its outcome have compromised Mexico’s economic performance.

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