Bolivia's Economic Reality: Expert Weighs In on Crisis Debate

An expert economist has clarified the definition of an economic crisis in Bolivia, distinguishing between technical indicators and the daily experiences of citizens. Jorge Akamine, President of the College of Economists, stated that from an economic perspective, a crisis is defined by at least two consecutive quarters of negative growth. However, he acknowledged that for individuals, a crisis is often perceived through tangible difficulties such as long queues for essential goods like fuel or the inability to afford previously accessible items. Akamine explained, "From an economic point of view, a crisis occurs when, in a given administration, you have at least two quarters of negative growth." He added, "From the individual's point of view, it's different... you can't do things you used to do, and that psychologically can generate frustration." The discussion aimed to address public concerns and the question of whether current challenges in Bolivia constitute an "exaggerated" claim of economic crisis.