Simon Chair in Political Economy

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:

Energy Cooperation in the Western Hemisphere: Benefits and Impediments (CSIS, 2007)
Commentaries on International Political Economy: Constructive Irreverence (CSIS, 2004)
Free Trade in the Americas: Economic and Political Issues for Governance and Firms (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2004)
NAFTA’s Impact on North America: The First Decade (CSIS, 2004)
Financial Decision-Making in Mexico: To Bet a Nation (Macmillan, 2000)
Development and Democracy in the Southern Cone: Imperatives for U.S. Policy in South America (CSIS, 2000)

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.

Cooperative U.S. - Mexican Antinarcotics Program
Over the past 30 years the United States has failed to adequately address the issue of illegal narcotics use.
Energy Cooperation in the Western Hemisphere: Benefits and Impediments
Energy Cooperation in the Western Hemisphere: Benefits and Impediments examines the state of energy cooperation among Western Hemisphere oil and natural gas producers and the opportunities for greater cooperation.
Simon Chair Blog
Commentaries on U.S. relations with countries in the Western Hemisphere – focusing on international political economy, trade, investment, energy, and other current events.
Unequal Partners: The United States and Mexico
Unequal Partners: The United States and Mexico explores the relationship between two neighboring countries—one highly dependent on the other.

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Medicare in Mexico
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.
Major Blow to Mexican Drug Cartel
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.