Economy & Business - April 2005

The ejection of the government of President Lucio Gutiérrez in Ecuador on 20 April has economic lessons for the rest of the region. Despite his loud scepticism about US Andean policy, Gutiérrez had pursued orthodox economic policies and delivered them pretty successfully. The fiscal deficit is under control and GDP growth, in 2004, had been impressive: 6.6% according to the IMF. Inflation had also been modest: 2.7% according to the IMF.