鈥淥il didn鈥檛 wreck Venezuela鈥檚 economy, socialism did.鈥 That鈥檚 what Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry, of the Washington-based conservative think tank Ethics and Public Policy Center, wrote earlier this year in his reflection on Venezuela鈥檚 deepening economic crisis.
Gobry, a prolific writer for Forbes and the Wall Street Journal, criticised Venezuelan analysts who scapegoat oil, even though he recognised that declining oil prices have aggravated the nation鈥檚 difficulties.
鈥淭he culprit is clear and obvious,鈥 Golbry contends. 鈥淭he problem is Venezuela's authoritarian socialism.鈥