We focus on changes in countries that have recently experienced elections (Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Paraguay, and Mexico) and those potentially on the brink of other big changes (Peru, Venezuela). The aim is to use this sample to identify underlying trends. From the perspective of companies operating in the region it may be useful to think of this as a partial PEST analysis (the acronym for a business planning method focusing on the impact on companies of combined political, economic, socio-cultural, and technological changes, originally developed by Harvard business professor Francis Aguilar).