Economist specialized in Economic Development, Strategic Marketing and International Markets. Professor at the University of Belgrano. Member of the Liberal Network of Latin America (RELIAL) and Member of the Institute of Ethics and Political Economy of the National Academy of Moral and Political Sciences.
Agustín Etchebarne, general director at Libertad y Progreso, spoke to BCR News, saying that “it is very difficult to put a specific number” to the impact sanitary measures could have on the Argentine economy.
According to the economist “Argentina is one of the very few countries in which poverty is growing. The reason is the lack of freedom. Unfortunately, we have a new religion, statism. We believe that the god of the State is going to solve the problems that people have to solve ”. And he added: “When this country worked well, we felt that we were masters of ourselves and of the fruits of our own labor.”
“Argentines have to realize that this is not enough for many. The current situation is worse than in 2001 or 2002, ” he continues.
In addition, the economist asserted that “the only way to reverse this circle is, first, to carry out a monetary reform and lower inflation to zero within a year and a half. Second, deregulate. Third, eliminate 170 taxes so the private sector grows faster ”.
Etchebarne indicated that “all these reforms must be applied together, and we will have an opportunity to achieve it if there is a strong crisis like the one I think is coming.” “There are some powerful economists, even within Kirchnerism, who understand the problem perfectly,” he explained.
For the economist, “our economic model is not essentially capitalist. It’s essence is innovation. Economists who don’t understand this don’t understand economics. ” He was forceful: “Freedom implies multiplies ideas. Capitalism is just one of the possible results, which is the accumulation of capital ”.
In this sense, “all governmental measures are aimed at containing inflation, betting on increasing salaries, until the elections. Then everything will explode ”, he added.
“Without believing a market economy works, you will not be able to apply it. We are not doing it because all our schools and universities attack this calling it neoliberal ”, he concluded.
