In the first few months of the year, the limited impact from the third wave of COVID-19 infections has enabled the sectors that had been lagging behind to experience a rebound. As a matter of fact, we estimate that an important part of the growth of the first few months of the year will be explained by this “rebound” in the sales in retail and some services.
On the political front, the Executive’s capacity to implement its most radical economic and political agenda has continued to weaken this month. This is a result of three factors: 1) the continuing loss of political capital from the population, 2) the weakening in the face of the controlling bodies, such as the public prosecutor and Congress and, 3) the clearly reduced capacity to implement public policy.
Nevertheless, the sustained deterioration of public management and high regulatory risk at the sector-level continue to limit investment growth, both in the private and public sector. Likewise, low investment levels limit the recovery of quality employment, which, when added to high levels of inflation, continues to curb families’ purchasing power.
In summary, the events of the first few months of the year have been in line with our prospects in terms of the health crisis and politics, which leads us to maintain our forecast of a low economic growth of 3% for 2022. However, there are still some risks that continue to generate uncertainty about the economic outlook, such as a potential presidential impeachment or an escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
During the 2Q2024, economic growth was driven by the rebound of primary sectors, such as traditional agriculture and fishing, and by higher public spending, supported by an estimated increase of 11% in public wages and 16% in public investment, adjusting for inflation.
During the month of August, attention was focused on the dynamics within Congress. In view of the election of the Board of Directors and the recomposition of the ordinary commissions, numerous movements were recorded in the benches.
Although the implicit alliance between the Executive and the Legislative remains in force, in recent months we have seen a progressive weakening of the Executive.
