Of course, not everybody has such a rosy view of the economy...
BBC NEWS | Business | Chavez's olive branch for firms
Quote:
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has announced a plan to help the country's businesses as rising inflation threatens the economy.
Under a stimulus package unveiled on Wednesday, Mr Chavez scrapped a tax and eased currency controls that made it harder for Venezuelan firms to operate.
He also announced a $1bn fund to help key industries such as food and oil.
Economic growth in Venezuela has slowed this year as inflation jumped to more than 31% last month.
The tax was stopping the productive process and boosted inflation
President Hugo Chavez
Growth slowed to a four-year low of 4.8% in the first quarter of 2008, a sharp fall from 8.8% the previous year.
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Conventional wisdom sees a slowing economy as a bad thing. I credit most of Venezuela's largesse to rising oil prices, not Chavez's policy. (clarification, lowering in wealth disparity credits Chavez, gdp rises credit oil). If anything he's moderating from his policy to make sure the economy stays stable and growing.
Just more proof that a mixed market social democracy is the best for the world (right now).