13 must-read stories for the weekend

Latin America’s most competitive countries. Only Chile and Panama made it into the global top 50. What can the rest of the region learn from their high-performing neighbours?

Where next for China’s leadership? While the world focuses on economic growth, Beijing is looking at sustainability and ’soft power’.

Entrepreneurialism and education in Latin America. Both are key to the region’s growth, writes Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto.

With US interest rates set to rise, Latin America’s economies could be in for a shock. Their only option is to start implementing structural reforms they’ve been putting off.

Age and attitude in business leadership. Younger leaders are far more concerned about staff welfare and wage inequality.

In this week’s podcast, the challenges and opportunities of the world’s biggest industry — travel & tourism.

Global business goes green. 94% of CEOs think sustainability should be “fully embedded in strategies and operations”. The remainder might find themselves out of a job.

Is cost-cutting creating higher supply-chain risks? Some corners just weren’t made to be cut, as companies are now finding out — the hard way.

The UN elects a new secretary-general next year. When it does, it should be sure to follow best practices for international organisations.

Is the dollar taking over the Fed’s job? The US currency’s sharp rise is cutting inflation and restricting growth, which means interest rates might not rise until the fall.

Americans favour redistribution via taxation. When Gallup started polling on the issue in 1998, only a third were in favour. Now more than half want heavy taxes on the rich.

African is stepping up military spending. Algeria and Angola led the way as the region’s arms spending exceeded 50 billion dollars last year — up more than 5% for the sharpest rise of any region.

Could China’s new ‘maritime Silk Road’ save Greece? China needs a more efficient way of getting goods into Europe. Greece needs the investment. But politics could get in the way.

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Author: Adrian Monck is Managing Director and head of Public Engagement at the World Economic Forum.

Image: Terraces are seen next to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in Cusco December 2, 2014. REUTERS/Enrique Castro-Mendivil