The Human Progress Podcast Milei Midterms: An Update on Argentina | Marcos Falcone | Ep. 69
Nov 14, 2025
Marcos Falcone, a policy analyst at the Cato Institute specializing in Latin America, delves into Javier Milei's electoral victory and its implications for Argentina. They explore Argentina's historical decline from global prosperity and the country's classical liberal roots. Marcos highlights Milei's ambitious reforms, including budget balancing and potential dollarization to stabilize the economy. He also contrasts Milei's libertarian policies with Trump's views, discussing the anticipation of regional liberal policy shifts arising from Milei's governance.
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Historic Shift From Openness To Protectionism
- Argentina went from a top-10 wealthy, open economy to a closed, protectionist state after Perón, causing long-term decline.
- Closing borders created entrenched special interests that blocked liberalizing reforms for decades.
Classical Liberal Roots Reemerged
- Argentina retained a strong classical liberal intellectual tradition centered on Juan Bautista Alberdi's 1853 constitution.
- That tradition later revived via think tanks and intellectuals, helping incubate leaders like Javier Milei.
Election Born From Economic Crisis
- In 2023 Argentina faced over 200% annual inflation and monthly rates above 10%, crippling daily life.
- Javier Milei won promising radical cuts, dollarization, and deregulation amid that chaos.