137  Argentine economy

Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2001 12:14:33 -0400
From: Melinda Bates <tangerauna@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject: Argentine economy

For those interested in the details of Argentina's economic woes, there is a
lengthy article on the front page of today's Washington Post. I can't give
you the URL because it appears their site is (temporarily) down, but you can
go to www.washingtonpost.com and proceed from there. The scenario they
describe is pretty grim.

happy tangos to all,
Melinda

Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2002 11:01:21 -0500
From: Stephen Brown <Stephen.P.Brown@DAL.FRB.ORG>
Subject: Tango and the Argentine Economy

A number of articles have been written about economic situation in
Argentina. For a few examples, see
<http://www.tejastango.com/argentina.html>,
<http://www.tangonoticias.com/newsletr.htm> February 2002
<http://www.tangonoticias.com/articles/may_2002_pots.htm>

In contrast, the few recent reports that I have read about tango in Buenos
Aires seem not to reflect very many concerns about safety or other
problems. Yes. There seem to issues in the pricing of shoes, and some
people reported some problems with obtaining cash when they were in Buenos
Aires during the sauce-pan revolution
<http://home.earthlink.net/~rmcgarreysprint014/>.

Any way I have some difficulty reconciling the idea of severe problems in
the Argentine economy with the idea that those problems have not manifested
themselves in the milongas or in a way that would affect those visiting
Buenos Aires to dance tango. I would appreciate any enlightenment that
those who are in Argentina or have recently visited could offer.

With best regards,
Steve

Stephen Brown
Tango Argentino de Tejas
http://www.tejastango.com/

Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2003 09:50:22 -0700
From: Richard Drury <rdrury@FASTMAIL.FM>
Subject: Some positive news about the Argentine economy

The Economist reports that the retail trade in BsAs is looking stronger than
it has been since the devaluation of the peso.
Harrods department store, a Buenos Aires landmark, will reopen its doors
later this year. Launched in 1914, this is the only overseas branch of
London's luxury retailer. But business waned in the 1980s, and the store
closed down after the economic crisis at the end of that decade.

Its revival marks an upturn in the city's retailing business. There were
fewer vacant properties in the city in May than at any point since the
country's economic collapse and devaluation in early 2002. The local economy
has enjoyed modest growth, and sales have swollen with an influx of foreign
tourists attracted by low prices. The Argentine middle classes seem to be
spending more of their disposable income on shopping as a substitute for
foreign holidays, which are out of reach for most at the current exchange
rate.

In order to take advantage of the upturn, Harrods has had to dodge its
former creditors and win a London court battle to be allowed to retain its
name. Only two of the store's seven floors will be open initially. But the
landmark's return, on the corner of the Florida pedestrian precinct and
Córdoba Avenue, is a welcome sign of regeneration in the city centre.