In Colombia, reforms to expand the country's social safety net will increase the state's role in the economy and potentially discourage private investment, even if conservative lawmakers push to water down the proposals. Since February, Colombian President Gustavo Petro has unveiled a series of sweeping social and economic reforms aimed at tackling poverty and other inequality issues in the country. The latest of these reforms was sent to Congress on March 22, with a bill that seeks to guarantee retirement for all Colombians by increasing the size of the country's state-owned pension provider. In addition to the pension reform bill, Colombia's new left-wing president (who took office on Aug. 7) has also recently proposed bills that seek to improve labor conditions and access to healthcare in the country. Lawmakers in Congress are currently debating all of Petro's reforms in a legislative session that will run through the end of May....
