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  • August 2023 (Revised October 2023)
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Beyond the Barricades: Chile 2023

By: Debora Spar, Willis Emmons, Leonard A. Schlesinger and Ruth Costas
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:16
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Abstract

Chile, often considered among Latin America's greatest economic success stories, suffered a shocking wave of protests in October 2019, as its citizens demanded reforms across healthcare and education systems, and protested inequality and rising costs of living. As Chileans and outside observers reviewed the situation, many reflected on the country’s long history of inequality as the underlying source for public frustration. Chile´s inequality had declined since the late 1990s, largely due to previous governments’ commitment to free market policies and economic growth. The country benefitted from a robust business sector that was open to international trade, and from a large and thriving middle class. Yet, Chileans were clearly angry, and their outrage now threatened to ruin the country’s robust economy and political stability.
Meanwhile, a growing number of observers became concerned and inspected the role that Chile’s business sector had played in the country’s successes and failures. Although business drove growth, it was also the sector that had escaped the troubles that beset so many other parts of the country. Moreover, Chile´s economic performance in 2022 was lackluster. What had gone amiss with one of Latin America’s most successful economies? And who had the power, and responsibility, to make changes?

Keywords

Government Administration; Developing Countries and Economies; Economic Growth; Social Issues; Wealth and Poverty; Public Opinion; Equality and Inequality; Public Administration Industry; Chile; Latin America; South America

Citation

Spar, Debora, Willis Emmons, Leonard A. Schlesinger, and Ruth Costas. "Beyond the Barricades: Chile 2023." Harvard Business School Case 324-005, August 2023. (Revised October 2023.)
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About The Authors

Debora L. Spar

General Management
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Willis M. Emmons

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Leonard A. Schlesinger

General Management
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Related Work

    • August 2023 (Revised October 2023)
    • Faculty Research

    Beyond the Barricades: Chile 2023

    By: Debora Spar, Willis Emmons, Leonard A. Schlesinger and Ruth Costas
Related Work
  • Beyond the Barricades: Chile 2023 By: Debora Spar, Willis Emmons, Leonard A. Schlesinger and Ruth Costas
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