FELIPE CALDERÓN

Creating Economic Opportunities by Improving the Climate

Climate change has become one of the greatest threats to future development. Despite the scientific evidence on the relationship between carbon emissions from human activities and increasing climate risk, the world is not taking enough action to mitigate those risks. This is to a large extent due to the false belief that taking the necessary actions represents an enormous economic cost to governments and businesses.

As President of the World Commission on the Economy and Climate and as one of the most recognized leaders in the field worldwide, Felipe Calderon provides a new vision for addressing climate change while generating economic growth and alleviating poverty.

What is Happening in Latin America?

After an outstanding decade for Latin America in economic terms, today multiple questions about the immediate and long-term future of the subcontinent have arisen. With the clear macroeconomic thinking and leadership experience that allowed him to successfully lead Mexico through the 2009 global economic crisis, Felipe Calderon offers a rich retrospective of what happened in Latin America the past decade. Furthermore, by contrasting the region’s main growth models, he presents an illuminating overview of the opportunities and challenges facing Latin America in the XXI century.

 Crisis and competitiveness Crisis and Competitiveness: The Case of Mexico

Due to the strong linkage of its exports to the US consumer, Mexico was the country that suffered the most from the impact of the 2009 financial crisis. President Calderon explains how he led the rapid recovery of Mexico since the economic crisis of 2009 and simultaneously improved the country’s competitiveness through market-oriented policies, deregulation, technological education and infrastructure investment, which reached unprecedented levels. He also put in place a firm strategy to fight organized crime and establish the rule of law. The expression "The Moment of Mexico" was coined at the end of his administration, when Mexico became one of the most competitive manufacturing economies and one of the largest exporters in the world.