COHA in the Public Arena March (22-29)
On Saturday, March 23, Council on Hemispheric Affairs Senior Research Fellow Ronn Pineo was quoted in a New York Times article, “A Once-Vibrant City Struggles as Panama Races Ahead on a Wave of Prosperity,” In the Article Mr. Pineo is quoted saying:
“Colón is predominantly black, whereas Panama City’s population is more of European descent, and many residents and analysts say they believe that racial discrimination has contributed to Colón’s stagnation.
Such disparities are growing starker in rising economies like Peru, Brazil and Ecuador, said Ronn Pineo, a senior research fellow at the Council on Hemispheric Affairs who studies economic change in Latin America.
“Not every urban area has gone along with the growth,” Mr. Pineo said. “And if there is any kind of racial divide, it is hard for affluence to cross, with the poorer area tending to be one color.”