As Mercosul countries navigate changes in global politics and the economy, stronger financial connections can expand cross-border payments and trade, reduce reliance on external financial infrastructure, and create new opportunities for regional cooperation. Marcela Marquez de Amorim Coutinho Alves, of the International Affairs Department at the Central Bank of Brazil and a 2026–27 Lemann Center Leadership Fellow in the Master of Policy Economics program, has coauthored a new article examining these issues. The authors argue that building on existing payment mechanisms while incorporating technological innovation can deepen financial integration and strengthen regional financial sovereignty
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https://www.ipea.gov.br/revistas/index.php/rtm/article/view/819/534
https://www.bcb.gov.br/en/financialstability/sml_en
https://www.bcb.gov.br/estabilidadefinanceira/sml (original in Portuguese)