First World, Upside-Down:

The puzzling fall of Argentina, South America's humbled giant

by Angel Gonzalez

April 2002: after more than three years of recession, Argentina has reached its nadir.

The country defaulted on its debt, the economy shrunk by 15 percent, 6 governments have collapsed in less than 4 months, and nobody knows of a way out.

But Argentina's free-fall didn't begin in 1998. For more than half a century, what once was one of the richest countries in the world has been engaged in an unstoppable fall.

Click on the flag to see country statistics

Introduction and photo gallery

Economy: A Long and Tortuous Fall

Politics: The Never-Ending Story

Youth: Where to Go?