Irish policy parallels to be found in Colombia

While I have only been loosely following financial markets over the last three weeks — after all, in the short-term it is all just noise — my three weeks in Colombia have provided me with new perspectives and insights that I look forward to sharing in the coming weeks.

It is an exciting year for Colombians, as a peace agreement nears that will bring an end to a 50-year conflict with the Farc guerrilla movement, or Fuerzas Armadas Revolutionaries de Colombia-Ejército del Pueblo to give it its full name, which in English translates to Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army.

However, having an economy heavily dependent on oil exports, the collapse in the price of its black gold has brought Colombia’s economic challenges into sharp focus, with a national strike on March 17 taking place to protest the government’s socio-economic policies.