Andina

Oppenheimer: Peru makes progress on poverty reduction

10:59 | Paracas (Ica region), Nov. 28.

International journalist and analyst Andres Oppenheimer affirmed that Peru remains an example of success in Latin America —despite political and judicial issues— which he attributed to its achievements in economic growth and poverty reduction.

However, the influential Miami Herald columnist noted that the Andean nation must solve its corruption and production diversification problems.

The author of "Salvese Quien Pueda" (Save Yourself if You Can), his latest book, was the main speaker at the first session of the Annual Conference of Executives (CADE-Executives 2019), currently held in Paracas.

Titled "Political and Technological Challenges in Latin America in Times of Unrest," the session examined the state of the region's economy amid the emergence of social protests in several countries.

"The good direction in which Peru is moving is in reference to poverty reduction, so the country has to solve its corruption problems and focus on much more important things, which would be more profitable in the long term, such as quality education, science, and technology," he pointed out.

The analyst referred to INEI data indicating that Peru has reduced poverty from 59% of the population in 2004 to 22% in 2017. "Impressive," he stressed.

Nevertheless, Oppenheimer believes that one of the things the country needs to correct has to do with productive diversification and the economic changes demanded by the population, but this has to be determined based on what has worked, and not on what did not work in the past.

"Peru needs to make corrections. It has to diversify its economy. In addition, it cannot continue doing, selling, and producing the same things as a hundred years ago. The country has to build on what has worked (in the past), instead of trying to change it for something that obviously does not work," he added.

(END) EGZ/RMCH/RMB/MVB

Published: 11/28/2019