viii PROSPECTS FOR REVITALIZING ARGENTINA Volume 39 2021 INTRODUCTION Santiago Villalba.................................................................................................................................. 1 THE SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RAMIFICATIONS OF ARGENTINA’S SOYBEAN INDUSTRY Emma B. Banker................................................................................................................................. 2 Argentina derives significant economic benefits from its booming soybean industry, leading the Argentine government to prioritize support for the industry ahead of social and environmental concerns. Without proper government intervention, negative impacts from soybean industry expansion, including social inequality and deforestation, will be exacerbated and result in unforeseen implications like the rapid approach of climate change. This article explores the most prevalent repercussions and provides possible solutions to mitigate their impacts. THE INFORMAL SECTOR IN ARGENTINA: ITS ROLE IN MITIGATING EXTREME POVERTY Abbhi Sekar. ........................................................................................................................................ 11 Argentina has one of the largest informal sectors in South America and the world. Many of the residents in poverty work in the informal sector and struggle to make ends meet. The government has hardly scratched the surface of combating this problem. This article explores possible solutions to transitioning informal workers to the formal sector as well as some of the benefits of the informal sector regarding limiting extreme poverty. RENEWABLE ENERGY AND THE FUTURE OF ARGENTINA’S ELECTRICITY SECTOR Jack M. Heller...................................................................................................................................... 20 Argentina has some of the best renewable energy and fossil fuel–based potential in the world. The Argentine government has an opportunity to invest in renewables and, hence, in its future energy stability. Combining these efforts will allow Argentina to reach not only its electricity needs but also its commitments under the Paris Agreement. HARNESSING ARGENTINA’S LITHIUM WITH POSITIVE LOCAL IMPACT Anmol Shrestha................................................................................................................................... 28 Argentina has endured a recent economic crisis related to currency devaluation, massive national debt, and declining exports. The country’s lithium reserves have the potential to alleviate the burden of this crisis, if utilized effectively. This article discusses the estimated exponential increase in global lithium demands across the world in pursuit of cleaner energy and how Argentina can position itself within the global market to capitalize on this trend while ensuring the best possible outcome for Argentine communities inhabiting lithium-rich regions. INFANT HEALTH CARE IN ARGENTINA Lina Arbain Oumera............................................................................................................................ 37 With the Argentine economic crisis in 2001, more people became medically uninsured and health outcomes deteriorated. One particularly alarming outcome was that infant mortality rates increased. In response, the Argentine government implemented Plan Nacer (Birth Plan), a novel maternal-child public health program. This article describes the evolution of the Argentine health care system, with a specific focus on how Plan Nacer led to a successful upgrade in infant health and mortality. THE PROMOTION OF FINANCIAL INCLUSION IN ARGENTINA THROUGH FINTECH F. Griffin Reichert................................................................................................................................ 45 Fintech and cryptocurrencies have been blossoming in Argentina due to their ability to give people access to necessary financial instruments that many Argentines have moved away from because of persistent hyperinflation and currency controls. This article examines the roots of financial exclusion,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTA0OTQ5OA==