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Chile should tout its passage to first world
BY ANDRES OPPENHEIMER / The Miami Herald
By the end of this year, Chile is likely to become the first South American country to join the exclusive club of the world's 30 richest countries. Yet, amazingly, you don't see Chileans jumping for joy, nor presenting themselves to their neighbors as a model nation.
According to officials from the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Paris-based institution that groups the world's wealthiest democracies, Chile may be officially accepted as a full member at its Dec. 18 meeting.
The OECD is waiting for the Chilean Congress to pass three pending measures to fully adhere to the organization's tax information exchange and corporate governance standards. Chilean officials hope the pending measures will be passed by December.
Chile has been pretty coy about its economic achievements. Unlike any other Latin American country, Chile's economy has grown steadily for the past two decades, and it leads Latin America in virtually all competitiveness rankings. More importantly, Chile has reduced its poverty rate from 39 percent of the population in 1990 to 13 percent nowadays. Yet, unlike Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, who goes around the world claiming that his country's oil-driven growth is a "revolutionary model," Chile's President Michelle Bachelet has abstained from political evangelism abroad. >>> Go to Full Story >>>