Chile’s economy was reshaped by market-oriented reforms under the military government of Augusto Pinochet, influenced by economists trained at the University of Chicago. These policies became a well-known case study in free-market economics and shaped the country’s institutions for decades.
The model faced its biggest test in 2019, when mass protests known as the estallido social challenged inequality and the social costs of the system. The COVID-19 pandemic then hit the economy hard, as it did everywhere else, and recovery has been uneven.
For students, Chile offers universities with programs across the sciences, humanities, and engineering. Spanish is the language of instruction, so language preparation matters. Chile’s clear skies also make it a notable place for astronomy, as described in our astronomy PhD in Chile’s Atacama Desert article.
Practical advice: research tuition and visa requirements, and consider whether a program’s reputation justifies the cost of studying abroad. Chilean perspectives on pathways to success offers a Chilean perspective on building a career, and study abroad opportunities covers the general benefits of studying abroad.
