The Americas Economy

At first glance, the newly elected government of Trinidad and Tobago faces a formidable first year, marked by one of the deepest slumps in energy prices seen in recent decades. According to provisional data by the Central Bank of T&T, the twin-island economy contracted by 2.1% in 2015, with GDP down 3% year-on-year in the fourth quarter of the year, reflecting a 5% contraction in the...

Trinidad and Tobago stands out in the Caribbean and the Americas as a comparatively wealthy, hydrocarbons-based economy with rich and diverse cultural traditions and a robust democratic system. The twin-island country has a population of 1.35m people and a per capita GDP that places the country among the wealthiest in the Americas, behind the US and Canada, and ahead of most Caribbean and...

This chapter contains information on hotels, government agencies and other listings, as well as useful tips for visitors on a range of topics such as visa requirements, currency and transportation, among others. 

As one of the larger economies in Latin America, Colombia has a track record of above-average GDP growth, a reputation for sound macroeconomic management and market-friendly policies. In 2015 it has demonstrated resilience, absorbing a significant oil price shock – petroleum accounts for roughly half of total exports –while maintaining positive, albeit slower, growth. The economy expanded by...

As peace talks between the government of Juan Manuel Santos Calderón and the leaders of the FARC continue in an effort to end 51 years of armed conflict, Colombia’s political climate could now be on the verge of significant change. Both sides agreed in September 2015 to set a deadline by which a final peace accord must be signed – March 23, 2016. If achieved, a peace accord could bolster...