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List of contents
Argentina’s Economic Reform of the 1990s in Historical Perspective
Preface
Introduction
Part I
The southernmost territory of Imperial Spain turns into the Argentine Nation
Chapter 1: Spanish Heritage
Chapter 2: From the May Revolution to the National Organization
Part II
1953-1913, six decades of increasing integration into the global economy
Chapter 3: From the National Organization to First World War
Chapter 4: Split, reunification and the `Historical Presidencies'
Chapter 5: The years when Roca dominated politics
Part III
From the beginning of World War I to the end of World War II
Chapter 6: The traumatic 30 years from 1914 to 1944
Chapter 7: The "Radical Republic"
Chapter 8: From the fall of Yrigoyen to the rise of Perón
Part IV
Four and a half decades of political and economic instability
Chapter 9: Inflation, stagflation and hyperinflation
Chapter 10: Perón and Evita
Chapter 11: The 18 years when Peronism was outlawed
Chapter 12: The return of Perón and the Military
Chapter 13: Transition to democracy and Alfonsín’s Presidency
Part V
Reform and counter reform
Chapter 14: The Latin American Consensus of the 90s
Chapter 15: Menem and De La Rúa
Chapter 16: The origin of Duhalde’s decision and Kirchner’s metamorphosis
Chapter 17: Duhalde and the Kirchners
Part VI
Conclusions and Epilogue
Chapter 18: Conclusions
About the author
Domingo Cavallo, Sonia Cavallo Runde
Summary
Why has Argentina suffered so much political and economic instability? How could Argentina, once one of the wealthiest countries in the world, failed to meet its potential over decades? What lessons can we take from Argentina's successes and failures?
Argentina’s economy is - irresistibly - fascinating. Argentina's economic history - its crises and its triumphs cannot be explained in purely economic terms. Argentina's economic history can only be explained in the context of conflicts of interest, of politics, war and peace, boom and bust. Argentina's economic history is also intertwined with ideological struggles over the ideal society and the on-going struggle of ideas.
The book comprises two distinct components: an economic history of Argentina from the Spanish colonial period to 1990, followed by a narrative by Domingo Cavallo on the last 25 years of reform and counter reform.
Domingo Cavallo has been at the centre of Argentina's economic and political debates for 40 years. He was one of the longest serving cabinet members since the return of democracy in 1983. He is uniquely qualified to help the reader make the connection between historical and current events through all these prisms. His daughter, Sonia Cavallo Runde, is an economist specialized on public policy that currently teaches the politics of development policy. The two Cavallos offer academics and students of economics and finance a long form case study. This book also seeks to offer researchers and policymakers around the world with relevant lessons and insights to similar problems from the Argentine experience.
Additional text
"Cavallo's book superbly travels the economic history legacy of Argentina to give a unique perspective on the contemporaneous policymaking process in a resilient conflictive Society."
Gerardo della Paolera,Professor of Economics at Universidad de San Andres and Central European University (CEU)
"Domingo Felipe Cavallo and his daughter Sonia Cavallo Runde, have produced a masterful book. Superb! Full of fascinating insights. Highly instructive, thoughtful and very well researched.The authors provide a compelling analysis of Argentina, connecting its historical episodes with current events.Domingo Cavallo presents a first-hand insider’s view from the battlefields of economic policies.He is a courageous and patriotic warrior who fought hard to save Argentina from itself.This book is a must read! "
Dr Jacob A. Frenkel, Chairman, JPMorgan Chase International, Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Group of Thirty (G30) and Former Governor of the Bank of Israel"The history the economics and the politics of Argentina, which promised so much at the onset, has been a long tragedy. This book provides a fascinating account that will benefit all those who want to understand better, students, scholars and practioners. Domingo Cavallo has been fully engaged, with all his energy, in the workings of that history and he takes the reader with him in his passion."
Christophe Chamley, Professor of Economics at Boston University and Directeur d'Etudes Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (EHESS) at Paris School of Economics
"Argentina’s history of policy mistakes and corrections has important lessons for all countries.Bad policies created high rates of inflation that weakened growth and destroyed financial institutions. Argentina has recovered in the past and is trying to do so again.This book is the best source for understanding this complex history. Domingo Cavallo brings unique insights and technical understanding to these complex issues."
Martin Feldstein, Professor of Economics,Harvard University
