International

Global warming is threatening our planet and living standards around the world, and the window of opportunity for containing climate change to manageable levels is closing rapidly. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are a key driver of this alarming trend. Fiscal policy has an important role to play. This issue of the Fiscal Monitor argues that policymakers need to act urgently to mitigate climate change and thus reduce its damaging and deadly effects, including rising sea levels and coastal flooding, more frequent extreme weather events, and disruption to our food supply— key issues affecting all people globally.

Certainly, trade retains its central place in the global economy. Nearly every government in the world takes the view that trade must be on the menu of options to generate growth and jobs. But in a great many other ways, the nature of trade has changed immeasurably. Who would have imagined that China, on entering the WTO in 2001, would emerge as the world’s largest exporter?

Even the way we trade has changed immensely. In the past, goods were made in Mexico, or Mauritius or Malaysia. Today, goods are made in the world. The expansion of global value chains means that most products are assembled with inputs from many countries. Products cross borders frequently during various stages of assembly. Trade in intermediate goods is the most dynamic sector of international trade growing at a rate of 6% per year.

There are numerous public policies in Latin American countries that are funding the deployment of digital infrastructure, especially in less developed areas. Most of these plans are funded with industry revenues. Exceptions include the Telecommunications Development Fund in Chile and the Fund for Social   Telecommunications Coverage in Mexico, which are funded from the public budget.  This reflects the fact that the macroeconomic environment in Latin America does not favor substantial increases in investment funded by the public sector.

Concessional financing from international organizations  and funds from multilateral development banks, such as the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Andean  Development  Corporation Development  Bank of Latin America (CAF),  can  be mobilized in areas where domestic public resources are  insufficient, and the private sector is unable to provide adequate financing.

With the expansion of the Internet, many businesses have now started to compete on a global scale. Whenever a business starts growing and expanding, entrepreneurs begin striving to become more competitive – either by importing or exporting goods. As these are the basics that make a business successful, here are some of the key benefits of importing and exporting that are worth considering.

Faster import clearance, duty savings, predictable costs, reduced regulatory oversight and a competitive advantage are all reasons to ensure that your business is compliant with international trade regulations. If you are an importer or exporter, you need a clear understanding of the rules that govern trade in your area. Here are a few of the legislative requirements and regulations you need to understand:

Aging is brought about by a cycle of biochemical processes which cause the body to degenerate over a period of time, impacting the health, fitness and physical appearance of the individual.

Anti-aging refers to the process of limiting or retarding these changes through various products and services. Nowadays, good physical personality has become a necessity and determines the success of an individual in different areas of life. The growing consciousness among both the young and old consumers regarding their physical appearance has fostered the demand for anti-aging products and devices.

A growing number of companies in the automotive industry are embracing the use of augmented and virtual reality technology for tasks such as part picking and inventory management, as well as for training.

From enhanced design and manufacturing processes to novel staff training and apprenticeship programmes, the use of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) in industrial applications is growing.

Countries in South America are poised for growth in certain sectors and industries, creating the opportunity for new and aspiring entrepreneurs to launch many new business ideas.

Smart Home Builder

There is a growing need in South America to have energy and resource efficient homes. Compared to other countries, many South American economies need further support with new technologies to make their existing infrastructure better. Energy and resource wastage is among the highest in the world. This can start at the individual home level. By creating a smart home building company, you can tailor to the needed efficiencies while also providing the new homes for the future. If you have skills in construction or electronic sensors and data, this would be a perfect business idea for you to execute on.