Simon Chair in Political Economy

Simon Chair Sidney Weintraub
The William E. Simon Chair in Political Economy, held by Sidney Weintraub, specializes in trade, investment, and international finance, particularly in the Americas.

The current holder of the William E. Simon Chair in Political Economy, Sidney Weintraub (pictured above), is an economist who specializes on issues of trade, investment, and international finance. These responsibilities are global in scope. Dr. Weintraub has a particular interest in Latin America and Canada.

He devotes much attention to the workings of NAFTA and the progress of economic integration arrangements and trade policy in the hemisphere. Dr. Weintraub provided leadership on an extended study of the automotive industry in North America, The North American Auto Industry under NAFTA.

Recent Publications include:

Dr. Weintraub is currently working on a study of Mexico’s economic dependency on the United States and how that economic relationship affects policy negotiations between the two countries. He is contemplating two additional projects: a study of benefits, costs, and feasibility of providing medical services under Medicare in Mexico to eligible retirees residing there; and a study of the drivers behind the ethanol debate across the Western Hemisphere.

Blog

  • Oct 29, 2009

    Although estimates of the number of American citizens residing in Mexico are varied, most analysts conclude that there are about 800,000 to 1.2 million living in Mexico.  Many of these citizens are retirees seeking to take advantage of Mexico’s much lower cost of living.  One of the biggest impediments to retiring in Mexico, however, is the inability of retirees to access Medicare benefits while in Mexico.  This issue presents numerous problems for these retirees.

  • Oct 23, 2009

    Since Wednesday, U.S. authorities have arrested 303 people, in a nationwide raid that targeted the La Familia Mexican drug ring. Supporting the raid, Attorney General Eric H. Holder commented, “These are drugs that were headed for our streets and weapons that often were headed for the streets of Mexico.”  The operation was part of a 44-month investigation named Project Coronado, and took place in 38 U.S. cities.