The state mining company, Comibol, sacked 16, 000 of its 27, 000 workers in a year.

ECONOMIST: Bolivia

IMF, Comibol is to rid itself of its corroding tin assets, if it can find someone to buy them.

ECONOMIST: Bolivia

According to Comibol's vice-president, Armando Guzman, all the smelting plant's 800 employees have now agreed to the deal, as have three-quarters of the miners.

ECONOMIST: Bolivia

To reach it, Comibol bypassed the miners' leaders.

ECONOMIST: Bolivia