This week in print

THIS week's issue features a special report by Michael Reid, The Economist's Americas editor, that takes stock of Latin America's remarkable progress over the decade leading up to the bicentennial anniversary of its fight for independence. It addresses the region's long history of disappointment, its commodity industries, its companies' competitiveness, its biggest airplane manufacturer, the growth of its middle classes, its drug traffickers, its democratic development, and the prospects for its future. The issue also features a leader on the region's relations with the United States. Finally, I conducted an audio interview with the author.

Aside from the report, the issue also examines the limits on the growth of Canada's army, Jamaica's gains in its battle against debt and gangs, and the upcoming races for Congress and governor in Brazil.