Many friends and colleagues have told me they're relieved that I'm back from Africa. The Ebola outbreak kept them worried about me – even though I was in safe areas. While in Nigeria, my friends there were alarmed when one night I got several mosquito bites – even though I was taking malaria pills. I do…

It is safe to say that Emilio Botín was an extraordinary person in every way. Without a doubt, the history of banking and the Spanish economy will surely bestow him a place of honor, no matter how the story is written. He had a decisive influence in shaping the history of the society in which…

Something I find amusing is that most African women use not only hair extensions but also wigs. I went to a Nakumatt supermarket in Nairobi, and I was amazed at the space dedicated to wigs! Women change their hairstyle so often that at times I've a hard time recognizing faces. This is but an indication…

Because we economists tend to view reality through the lens of economic models, but I did enjoy one of John H. Cochrane’s comments in his blog “Macro debates, the oped.” For quite some time now, due to the recent crisis, I have been experiencing a lot of hesitation about these model-filtered visions. Cochrane, a University…