The NYT reports that Brazil, Argentina, and Chile "are struggling to maintain sufficient natural gas supplies after several years of strong economic growth." Strong growth could explain energy shortfalls in Argentina and Chile, whose growth rates have averaged 8.6 percent and 5.0 percent over the last five years, respectively, according to IMF data (including projected growth for 2007). By contrast, Brazil's growth has averaged just 3.6 percent over this period. That hardly constitutes "strong" growth for a developing country.
--Dean Baker
