Hernando de Soto

Hernando de Soto is a Peruvian economist he is well known for his work on the informal economy and the importance of business and property rights. He is also the current president of the Institute for Liberty and Democracy

He was born on June 2, 1941, in Arequipa, Peru. He worked as an economist for the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, a precursor to the World Trade Organization, as well as president of the Committee of the Copper Exporting Countries Organization.

For the 2001 Peruvian general election, de Soto sought to run for president with his Popular Capital party, though he failed to register the party on time to participate.