Don’t blame market-friendly policies for Latin America’s discontent

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What to make of rebellions against the 'neoliberal' governments of Argentina and Chile

of free markets in Latin America, October was a dismal month. In Chile, free-marketeers’ favourite economy in the region, protests against a rise in fares on the Santiago metro descended into rioting and then became a 1.2m-person march against inequality and inadequate public services. Sebastián Piñera, the centre-right president, sacked some officials and promised reforms. In Argentina voters booted out the pro-business president, Mauricio Macri, after one term.

Argentina is a failure, but not for the reasons Mr Maduro imagines. Its economy is in recession, inflation is over 50% and the poverty rate is over 35%. This was not caused by Mr Macri’s “neoliberalism”. Inheriting an economic mess in 2015, he made mistakes of tactics and timing, among them hesitation in cutting the fiscal deficit.

Chile undertaxes the rich. Oligopolies have colluded to fix prices in industries from drugs to poultry. Income inequality is lower than the regional average, but it is high by rich-country standards. More than a quarter of workers are in informal jobs. Even middle-class Chileans live in cramped housing. Behind the fare-rise rebellion lies a pervasive sense of unfairness.

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🗣what to make✍️❓🤔❓chilenos👍🤝🤝💪👍✌️👍👈people chilena👈👉🤝🤝💪👍👈 soyrolo🦁🦁

At least in Chile, the rebels seem to want policies that are less market-oriented and hard-assed about cost-pricing. For instance, they want commuter fares to be subsidized. Chileans probably wish for economic liberalism that treats its citizens to doses of stimulus as in Europe.

'neoliberal' gov is about budget cuts austerity n public to pay more for edu n transport so they r revolting the oppressors Neoliberals work for d bosses n miners n ignore the majority

lol. laissez faire is a veritable religion and dogma. market doesn't regulate itself.

🗣what to make✍️❓🤔❓chilenos👍people chilena💪🤝🤝👈👉people✍️💪👍🤝👈 soyrolo🦁🦁

La media perso para escribir el titular. This is like to say 'don't blade mass media for fake news'. Repeat after me: Piñera culiao

And I guess expanding Globalization has no connection to expanding inequality either, is that right editors? Don’t blame the Globalist elites? Does that sum it up?

Simply lack of political,managerial and communications skills to make these market friendly policies work for the benefit of the people. Government arrogance does not help either, in a culture with high expectations on elected officials, as if they were viceroys of colonial times

“Don’t blame global warming for climate change protesters’ discontent”

Did you actually talk to protestors in Chile

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