BRASIL: Former C.Banker Chief Arminio Fraga Interviewed By Charlie Rose.

CHARLIE ROSE TV/ 32 mins.
Arminio Fraga was the Central Bank of Brasil's president from 1999 to 2002.


The economist founded the investment firm Gávea Investments in 2003, that is now owned by JP Morgan.
Some call Fraga "Latin America's Alan Greenspan" for his monetary policies as CBB president.

FOR ECONOMICS GEEKS: Michael Spence Interviewed By Charlie Rose.

C.ROSE/ 23 minutes video

   The USA's Charlie Rose interviews 2001 Nobel prize-winning economist Michael Spence, who is promoting his newest book “The Next Convergence: The Future of Economic Growth in a Multi-Speed World.”
    The topics discussed range from the current IMF/ Eu crisis, China's impact, globalization to the diminishing dominance of the USA.
    The conservative ECONOMIST said about the book.. "The Next Convergence" feels less like a book than a transcript of the author thinking out loud about a hodgepodge of economic issues....Spence has more questions than answers. That in itself is no bad thing. You need humility when evaluating the impact of globalization, he says. But it makes for an unsatisfying book."
 ---------------------------------------
  
   The interview is worthwhile. I don't know about the book.
    In any case, I am a sucker for the Charlie Rose interviews...especially those about economics and world politics. 
   It's not always easy either...because Rose airs at 11:05 p.m...and too many times to recount I've fought off the need to sleep.
   

MEXICO: President Felipe Calderon Interviewed...In English...By Charlie Rose.

charlierose.com/ 54 minutes

   Last night, Charlie Rose interviewed Mexico's President Felipe Calderon.
   It was the first time I had heard Calderon expound on the many issues challenging Mexico...and in English!
   Prior to this interview, I had only seen snippets of Calderon pronouncements.
   Surprisingly, he speaks excellent English...better than I speak Spanish or Portuguese.
   After about 30 minutes, Calderon seemed to visibly relax. 
   Perhaps he realized that Rose was not going to play 'gotcha" with him, ie, no questions about alcohol abuse.
   My overall impression of Calderon now is more favorable.
   That President Calderon can be a charming free market salesman...with a willingness to take on the narco thugs...but only until his term ends in 2012.
   What's your impression?
 ---------------------------------
   While in NYC, Calderon, speaking with BLOOMBERG, addressed Mexico's inflation...saying it is "under control."
   Annual inflation there in April was 3.36%...or about half Brasil's 6.51%...and close to the c.bank’s target of 3%.
  Calderon also said that GDP grew to more than 5% in Q1...from 4.6% in Q4.
  “I would like to see even better growth, but it’s not bad,” Calderon said. “Under the circumstances it’s a very good performance.”
   He also said he would like to see Pemex become more efficient like Brasil's Petrobras...with a second reform of it...but that Pemex is unlikely to sell shares.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-11/calderon-says-inflation-under-control-as-commodities-sink-mexico-credit.html