From Buenos Aires to Colombo, discontent simmers under the surface of rebounding economies

By Libby George, Nicolás Misculin and Uditha Jayasinghe LONDON/BUENOS AIRES/COLOMBO, Oct 23 (Reuters) Gustavo Raul Perez furrows his brow over a notebook at the hardware shop he has run for six years on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. Since Javier Milei became president of Argentina in 2023 — with Perez s vote — rapid reforms have thrilled investors and won praise from the International Monetary Fund. Perez, though, ​mainly feels the pinch. This economic plan is for a few, he said. Inflation has fallen to roughly 33% from nearly 300%, imports ‌have opened up and subsidies have fallen. But Perez s restocking costs have tripled and customers have less to spend. There was a middle class three years ago, he says. It doesn t exist anymore. Perez s experience reflects a tension coursing through emerging economies: reforms that restored investor confidence and stabilised public finances have yet to improve living standards for many. In Morocco, glittering new office towers contrast wi