Carlitos' Way is a model of economic recovery proposed by an nine year old Ecuadorian boy named Carlitos, who learned basic American using an introductory Economics textbook. Juan's Corollary is a more involved explanation of Carlitos' Way from an actual Economics major; Juan is Carlitos' older brother. The American Government shows no interest in even reading Carlitos' letter or speaking to Juan, on the grounds that they are Mexicans.