LASA Conference 2013: The Future of Latin America

SIPA’s Latin American Student Association (LASA) recently welcomed speakers from the worlds of development, economics, politics, and finance to its 2013 annual conference, “The Future of Latin America: Positioning the Region in the Global Scene.”

The day-long event on September 27 reflected LASA’s mission of fostering understanding and analysis of the current economic, political and social issues in Latin America, promoting the region’s culture and enhancing opportunities for future cooperation — across disciplines and between current students and SIPA alumni.

The event drew many SIPA students from Latin America, graduate-school peers from NYU, the New School, and Princeton, diplomats, journalists, and academics interested in the region.

Conference panels focused on four pressing themes — Poverty and Development, Security Issues, Political Agenda, and Economic Policy — while a keynote speech, “The future of Latin America: Structural Change for Equality,” was delivered by Alicia Barcena, executive secretary of the UN-ECLAC (the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean).

SIPA’s own Professor José Antonio Ocampo, the EPD concentration director, participated in the conference as LASA’s advisor and as a panel member. Other panelists included senior officers from the World Bank, UNDP, federal government of Mexico (Finrural), U.S. and Mexico diplomatic corps, the Organization of American States, private communication and outreach firms, various government ministries, and rating agencies. All of them provided unique perspectives on the region’s future, fielded questions, and participated in a productive debate.

Thanks to the many SIPA student volunteers who helped run the conference, including the second-year students who served as panel moderators.

For more information on the conference, including speaker presentations and bios, photos, video, and other resources, visit LASA's website.

If you would like to be added to LASA’s mailing list please email LASA.

photograph: Andres Lizcano