PAX Articles
Mining in Chile and Its Sustainability.
Author: Laurence Hewick, PhD Introduction. South America is a global mining powerhouse, dominating in the production of copper, lithium, niobium, and silver. Chile and Peru lead in copper, while the “lithium triangle” (Chile, Argentina, Bolivia) holds massive reserves. Brazil, a major hub, leads in niobium and iron ore, with significant untapped potential in the Amazon. Chile is the world’s leading mining production country holding the top position as the largest producer of copper,…
Water Challenges in Central Chile.
Author(s): Roberto Salazar, Laurence Hewick. Date: 4/26 Abstract Chile’s current policy debate is centered on energy pricing and stabilization. This paper argues that the same underlying allocation problem is already present in water, particularly in Central Chile, but with greater structural depth and longer-term implications. We develop a sequence that moves from observable energy dynamics to the less visible but more binding water constraint, and from there to a strategy that integrates pricing,…
Indigenous Peoples of the World – Protectors of the Environment
Author: Steve Gruber, MBA There are over 5,000 distinct Indigenous groups worldwide, representing approximately 476 million people. These groups make up roughly 6.2% of the global population and are spread across 90 countries. They are distinctive in their cultural diversity as they represent a vast array of cultures and languages that significantly contribute to the world’s cultural heritage. But perhaps their greatest contribution is that they often live in close relationship with the…
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Illegal Logging in Chile: Structure of the Forestry Sector, Emerging Threats, and Governance Responses
Author(s): Roberto F. Salazar-Córdova and Laurence HewickPAX Research Center of the Americas – Policy Research PaperJEL Classification: Q23 (Forestry), Q56 (Environment and Development), K42 (Illegal Behavior and Enforcement), F18 (Trade and Environment) Abstract Chile hosts one of the most productive forestry sectors in the Southern Hemisphere while simultaneously confronting increasing pressure on its native forest ecosystems. Forestry exports reached approximately USD 6.37 billion in 2024, representing roughly 5.5–6 percent of Chile’s exports and…
Trees & Deforestation a Global perspective.
Author: Dr. Laurence Hewick, PhD. Deforestation refers to the clearing of forests. It has wide-ranging negative effects, including climate change, biodiversity loss, soil erosion, and water cycle disruption, impacting both the environment and human populations. Biggest global cause of biodiversity loss is deforestation. The Earth loses about 38,610 square miles of forest every year. Ninety-six percent of global deforestation occurs in tropical forests. More than half of the planet’s tropical rainforests have been destroyed…
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Bolivia and It’s Environmental Risks. (an overview)
Author: Dr. Laurence Hewick, PhD.Date: 01/26 Bolivia is a land locked country in central South America with a population about 12.4 million people. It’s people, are mostly Mestizos (68% mix of Indigenous and European). About 20% are Indigenous of Inca decent and the balance mostly white Europeans. Bolivia’s geography is incredibly diverse defined by the Andes Mountains in the west reaching over 6,500 meters (21,300 feet) to the high-altitude Altiplano plateau in the center, and…
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End of Year Review. Part 2 (Canadian Economy, 2026).
Author: Dr. Laurence Hewick, PhD. Date: 12/25 The new year is shaping up to be another turbulent one, as the renegotiation of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) will once again create a climate of uncertainty that will hamper the country’s economic activity. Canada’s GDP is expected to grow by a modest 1% to 1.3% in 2026, down slightly from 2025, which is expected to close with 1.2% to 1.4% growth. Inflation should remain around 2% while we see…
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The Roboré Geopark of Bolivia
Bolivia’s hidden gem is a geopark in Roboré that could unlock sustainable development, protect biodiversity, and inspire scientific discovery through its unique geological wonders.
The problem of youth entrepreneurship in Latin America
Youth entrepreneurship is a vehicle for enhancing the employability and social mobility of young people, allowing also for social transformation. Latin America youth encounter many challenges that hinder their development and access to grow start-ups to mature firms.
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Thriving in a deeply unequal global landscape
Youth entrepreneurship is a vehicle for enhancing the employability and social mobility of young people, allowing also for social transformation. Latin America youth encounter many challenges that hinder their development and access to grow start-ups to mature firms.
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Ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and clean energy
To realize their great potential, emerging and developing economies (EMDEs) must undertake effective investment in education, infrastructure, and technology. That is perhaps the great dilemma of modern society.
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An introduction to a comparative social & economic profile of the Americas
Author: Dr. Laurence Hewick, PRCA The sovereign states of the Americas comprise of 36 countries. For this profile they have been divided into 4 groups comprising of 3 in North America, 13 in the Caribbean, 7 in Central America and 12 in South America. These then have been profiled by population, literacy level with world ranking, the GDP per capita (an indirect measure of average income), the unemployment level and inflation percent based…
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