Another country

摘要

No matter where one goes in Argentina these days, evidence of the country's remarkable economic recovery is hard to avoid. In the northern Patagonian province of Rio Negro, the autumn apple crop has given way to hordes of skiers; near the Brazilian border, Chilean-owned factories churn out paper pulp; and in the beach resorts south-east of Buenos Aires, builders race to finish new homes in time for the holiday tenants who will flock there next January. Since its collapse in 2001-02, Argentina's economy has grown by a quarter. According to government estimates, it has finally surpassed its previous peak of May 1998. In another sign that the worst is over, on July 18th the government issued dollar bonds for the first time since its massive debt default of 2001.