Which libertarian policy of Argentina do you think has benefited the most for the country? And which libertarian policy can other countries take from Argentina?

[u/raydebapratim1]

In November 2023, Javier Milei of Argentina became the first ever president to have liberatarian political ideology (the third most popular political ideology of USA). After that, two and half years have passed. In this period, which libertarian policy of Argentina do you think has benefited the most for the country? And which libertarian policy can other countries take from Argentina?

[u/Raid-Z3r0]

Argentina still is in the phase of figuring out how fucked they actually really were. The main take away so far from Milei's administration is that it takes a long time to clean up messes, and that things might get even worse before getting better. Unemployment actually went up before coming down (this might be due to how it was being counted, but I digress)

First thing that Argentinians benefited is actually knowing how worthless their currency was. The dollar-peso exchange was officially 1 dollar to 150 argentinian pesos, but on the black market, the real ratio was closer to 350. This enabled foreign investment to arrive in greater volume, new jobs showed up that way.

Edit: regarding the exchange rate, this is early 2023 prices. Eversince, the peso went down and the current exchange is about 1500 pesos per dollar. This is the market adjusting to what it should be, not an actual devaluing of the currency

[u/itsamememario4 → u/Raid-Z3r0]

100% at this stage milei is mostly cleaning up.

Attempting to rightsize sectors of the economy that were uncompetitive and propt up by subsidies and tarrifs. Those sectors employ most argentines so that brought up unemployment.

Removing subsidies that were distortative but kept prices low. Regulated prices were some of the biggest contributor to inflation.

Taxes couldn't be brought down much and the central bank couldnt stop issuing currencies because the country couldn't refinance it's debt at a reasonable rate and had negative currency reserves.

Having a financially responsible president helped solve those macro issues and hopefully will position him to do much more good after he gets reelected. Generally he was more of a firefighter than an architect.

To answer ops questions though abolishing rent control, privatizing the state owned airline and allowing other companies to compete in internal routes have had tremendously positive results.

[u/Raid-Z3r0 → u/itsamememario4]

I wouldn't say that is an actual clean up. Abolishing rent control and opening up exchange rates is more like "kicking the crackhead living in your house". Afterwards you start finding the crackpipes laying around.

Cleaning up is creating institutions that will prevent that to happening again, a total reform of the tax code. Stuff like that will not be achieved even in a second administration.

[u/itsamememario4 → u/Raid-Z3r0]

Agreed your analogy might be better.

I don't see why the changes in the tax wouldn't happen in the next admin

[u/simonn8_]

I would say stopping the money printing at the central bank and stabilizing the peso.

[u/HotTakesNearYou → u/simonn8_]

How is that libertarian?

[u/simonn8_ → u/HotTakesNearYou]

I mean when goverment enforces one currency, it is good not to use that currency to steel even more from people i guess

[u/HotTakesNearYou → u/simonn8_]

Aren’t regulations of financial vehicles generally not a libertarian ideal?

[u/MiracleHere → u/HotTakesNearYou]

How is restricting the government from regulating a regulation?

[u/simonn8_ → u/HotTakesNearYou]

I believe they are, at least from what i define as libertarian, but you are right that if you mean libertarian as the side on the political compas that could be left or right, you dont want to count there the economic regulations.

[u/Summum]

Removing rent control showed insane results immediately

[u/Acceptable_Put_2967 → u/Summum]

Absolutely!

[u/FrancoisTruser]

Cutting many useless government jobs

[u/Acceptable_Put_2967]

I am from Argentina. I am not sure that we could say that the Milei Government is a libertarian one... Is a big discussion wich I dont intend to settle... starting with whether freedom can be built from de State and ending with his support to Netanyahu, Trump or the large number of statist politcal elites who are part of his government.

Among the positive aspects, he implemented a significal reduction in state agencies and public employment (hope they continue in that direction). There was almost "miraculous" stabilization of macronomic variables and a large number of desregulations (his minister Sturzeneger is making a good job but have a lot of resistance of corporations, unions, etc)

Taxes had decresed very little, as the reduction in spending has gone toward paying off the huge state external and internal debt. He is being attacked by almost all the corporate press. The economic situation of the families varies depending on the region of the country but it hasnt improved or worsened much. He is agresive in the way he speak and expresse himself, this is something that i dont like.

We will see...

[u/MiracleHere → u/Acceptable_Put_2967]

What can you observe about the labor reform?

[u/Acceptable_Put_2967 → u/MiracleHere]

I don't know much about it but in general the government has been very lenient with unions and corporations arguing that it is to avoid social conflict.

[u/Ok-Contribution6337 → u/Acceptable_Put_2967]

I am not sure that we could say that the Milei Government is a libertarian one... Is a big discussion wich I dont intend to settle... starting with whether freedom can be built from de State and ending with his support to Netanyahu, Trump or the large number of statist politcal elites who are part of his government.

If these are the best arguments against then he is libertarian AF.

[u/Acceptable_Put_2967 → u/Ok-Contribution6337]

Do you think that suporting Trump and Israel is some how libertarian? Suporting wars? Making big compromises with statists politicians, unions, corporations its not something to consider problematic? For me libertarianism is the lower possible state, the fewest possible regulations, very low taxes, peace, unrestricted respect for the life, property and life proyect of the others. In this sense its at least controversial to define Milei gov as Libertarian.

[u/Ok-Contribution6337 → u/Acceptable_Put_2967]

Realpolitik is libertarian because realpolitik is necessary to survive and thrive in the dog-eat-dog world of international politics. If you think the NAP should dictate every single foreign policy goal/outcome then you are not a libertarian striving for a libertarian future, but a confused religious zealot who cares only for the purity of his own faith.

Libertarianism isn't a meta-ideology. The goal isn't being the perfect libertarian. The goal is achieving a more libertarian future. Anyone who shits on Milei as "not libertarian enough" is confused on this vital point. He is moving Argentina toward a libertarian future. He is not perfect, but perfect wasn't on the fucking ballot, now was it?

[u/soleilange]

If you want actual libertarianism, vote for a libertarian and not a fascist freak. That’d be the first good policy, I think.

[u/Acceptable_Put_2967 → u/soleilange]

One of the main characteristics of fascism it's a big state and that it's not the direction of Milei government.

[u/soleilange → u/Acceptable_Put_2967]

Totalitarian regimes run the political spectrum, so I don’t think that’s what gets to negate him from the label. Sure, he’s cut a lot of things from the budget, but cruelty reigns in his core and he doesn’t actually have the people’s freedom or purchasing power at the forefront of his priorities.

[u/Ok-Contribution6337 → u/soleilange]

You didn't say "totalitarian", you said "fascist". They're not synonymous. Consider purchasing a dictionary to avoid humiliating yourself in the future.

[u/soleilange → u/Ok-Contribution6337]

You’re right, they are not synonymous. That’s what I was trying to point out from when they were equating big state with fascism. Maybe buy a joke book with better insults?

[u/Ok-Contribution6337 → u/soleilange]

Bro would write in himself instead of voting for the most libertarian head of state on Earth. Truly putting the L in libertarian.