For the last two years, a dark cloud has been over Argentina as they contend with a serious economic crisis. The South American Country, and third largest economy on the continent, has been in a prolonged recession since mid-2018, with the Argentinian Peso losing over 60% of its value, poverty sky-rocketing, unemployment hovering at around 10%, and external debt going through the roof.

Since January 2016, when the economic crisis in Argentina began to emerge, the Peso has decreased in value from 13 Peso to the dollar, to just under 60 as of today’s exchange rate. Whilst this only adds to the crippling economic woes across most of the country, there is a positive side, as there always should be in the eyes of an economist.

When $1 would only buy a mere 13 Peso’s 5 years ago, that same dollar will now get you just under 60! For those outside of Argentina looking to either import Argentinian goods or buy property in the country, now could be the perfect time to buy! However, given that the country is also dealing with high levels of inflation (34% in 2018) importers are likely to be put off by the increasing price of Argentinian goods. Property however, could be a sound investment…

According to a report on the country’s property market, house prices actually fell by 2.5% year-on-year in 2019. For those with a few spare dollars, and willing to help out the Argentinian economy with some much-needed investment, look no further this year: buy a house in Argentina!

THINK LIKE AN ECONOMIST!

Q1. What is meant by the term exchange rate?

Q2. Describe the trend of the Argentine Peso against the US dollar since 2016.

Q3. Analyse the argument for why buying a house in Argentina could be a good decision in 2020.

TheCuriousEconomist

Recent Posts

Canada Pulls U.S. Alcohol from Shelves in Retaliation for Trump Tariffs

The U.S.-Canada trade war is spilling over—literally. In response to Trump’s 25% tariffs on Canadian…

3 days ago

U.S. Economy on Track for Contraction as Spending and Exports Decline

Early 2025 economic data suggests the U.S. economy may be slowing down faster than expected.…

4 days ago

India’s Consumer Market Shrinks as Wealth Inequality Deepens

India’s consumer market is far smaller than its population suggests, with only about 130-140 million…

2 weeks ago

Google Fights Back Against Canadian Lawsuit Over Market Power

Google is battling a lawsuit from Canada’s Competition Bureau, which accuses the tech giant of…

2 weeks ago

Trump Slaps 25 percent Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum

President Donald Trump has reignited his trade war strategy, imposing sweeping 25% tariffs on all…

4 weeks ago

Round 2: China Hits Back with Retaliatory Tariffs and Economic Countermeasures

In a swift and strategic response to new U.S. tariffs, China has imposed its own…

1 month ago