Is a Libertarian Revolution Underway in Argentina? | Bowtied Mara

Feb 3, 2025

In this engaging conversation, Bowtied Mara, a Dutch expat and political commentator, sheds light on Argentina's dynamic political landscape. They explore the historical impacts of Juan Perón and the rise of Javier Milei's libertarian agenda. Mara outlines Milei's ambitious economic reforms, including the overhaul of price controls and bureaucratic red tape. The discussion also touches on the unique challenges facing Argentina, such as currency alignment and the internal divides within the libertarian movement, suggesting a potential shift in the nation's political paradigm.

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ANECDOTE

Mara's Move to Argentina

Bowtied Mara, a literary studies major, moved to Argentina 20 years ago after marrying a Brazilian woman studying in Buenos Aires.
Despite their divorce, Mara remained, remarried an Argentine, and now has two children.

INSIGHT

Argentina's Shadow Economy

Navigating Argentina's complex business landscape involves bureaucratic hurdles like convoluted invoicing and strict tax regulations.
Many Argentines operate in the informal economy to avoid these challenges.

INSIGHT

Argentina's Economic Decline

Argentina's economic decline began during the Great Depression as the UK, its primary investor, shifted focus to the US.
This led to unfavorable trade deals for Argentina, exacerbating its economic woes.

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In Episode 399 of Hidden Forces, Demetri Kofinas interviews Bowtied Mara about Argentina’s political history, its economy, the local real estate market, the energy sector, and President Javier Milei’s efforts to revive growth, combat inflation, and liberalize the country’s economy.

In the first hour, Mara and Demetri explore Argentina’s political history and the roots of its economic decline, drawing comparisons with the United States during the pivotal decades of the 1930s and 1940s. They delve into the legacy of Juan Perón, the significance of Peronismo in Argentine politics, what defines a Peronista, and why Javier Milei’s libertarian approach and his election as Argentina’s 59th president mark a departure from the country’s history of alternating between Marxist and fascist regimes.

In the second hour, the discussion shifts to Milei’s master plan, his initial priorities upon taking office, and the strategies he’s employing to achieve his political goals. They examine specific policy changes already enacted through his use of emergency powers, such as reforms to Argentina’s price control system, export tariffs, privatization initiatives, and measures aimed at cutting through decades of bureaucratic red tape to liberalize the economy. The conversation also touches on Argentina’s ‘crawling peg,’ efforts to align the official peso-USD exchange rate with the unofficial blue rate, the introduction of competing currencies, and Milei’s controversial push to abolish the Central Bank of Argentina.

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Producer & Host: Demetri Kofinas

Editor & Engineer: Stylianos Nicolaou

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Episode Recorded on 01/27/2025