Stories for 2008

Monday, November 24th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
UK pre-budget report: VAT down two points; record borrowing

Britain's Chancellor Alistair Darling has cut VAT but taken borrowing to record levels in moves he says are needed to save the UK from a deep and long-lasting recession. Top earners also face more tax and all National Insurance contributions will rise, he said in his pre-Budget report.
Monday, November 24th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Obama names top economic advisers; warns of challenges

United States President-elect Barack Obama has named his top economic advisers to oversee a huge economic stimulus package. Timothy Geithner, the president of the New York Federal Reserve, will be the next US treasury secretary.
Monday, November 24th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Opposition grabs Caracas and 5 states in Venezuelan polls

Venezuela's opposition cut deep into President Hugo Chávez's majority and standing during last Sunday's local elections when it won five of the country's most populous states as well as the crucial mayor's office of the capital Caracas.
Sunday, November 23rd 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Venezuelan vote seen as key test for Chavez

President Hugo Chavez knows just how important Sunday's state and municipal elections are to his own grip on power.
Sunday, November 23rd 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Apec: Bush defends free trade agreement

George Bush, the outgoing US president, has continued his defence of free market ideology, despite widespread criticism of it being behind the global economic crisis.
Sunday, November 23rd 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Brazil recalls Ecuador ambassador

Brazil has recalled its ambassador from Ecuador over the Andean country's suspension of payments on a Brazilian loan worth at least $320 million.
Sunday, November 23rd 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Obama orders economic plan to create 2.5m US jobs

Barack Obama, the US president-elect, has ordered his advisers to produce an economic recovery plan aimed at creating 2.5 million new jobs across the country over the next two years.
Saturday, November 22nd 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Venezuelan municipal elections, key test for Chavez “revolution”

Sunday's elections in Venezuela will be a key test for President Hugo Chavez a year after voters defeated his effort to change the constitution which was targeted to ensure his XXI Socialist-Bolivarian revolution.
Saturday, November 22nd 2008 - 20:00 UTC
NY Fed Reserve Geithner tipped for Treasury Secretary

United States shares rose sharply on Friday following a report that US President-elect Barack Obama has chosen his treasury secretary, reassuring investors. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 494 points or 6.5% to end at 8,046.66. The Standard & Poor's 500 climbed 6.3%.
Saturday, November 22nd 2008 - 20:00 UTC
The Economist sorts Latam's pragmatists from its populists

Michael Reid is The Economist Americas editor and author of “Forgotten Continent: The Battle for Latin America's Soul” (Yale).