Chile: the balanced view : a recopilation of articles about the Allende years and after

vernment.h~s sought to mitigate the undoubtedly harsh effects of its deflationary policies by ralslng mtnlmum wages and family allowances, and evolving a policy of wage adjustments al periodic intervals, austerity wi II be the keynote for some time to come. Unfortunately for Chile, two factors over which it has no control have affected recovery: the fall in the world price of copper, itself a sígn of world industrial recession, to its present level of.around t 550 a ton; and the dramatic ríse in oi! prices. Chile ís likely to be for many years a net importer of energy,and imported inflation through oil and other essential primary commodi– tíes such as sugar will continue, Given that for most of the 1970s, Chile will need to find some US$500m annually for debt repayments in addition, the magnitude of its problems is apparen!. CONCLUSION Chile is endowed with very rich resources, and has a talented people to exploit them, The pro¡:;ess of reconcilíation within the Chilean famíly will clearly take a long time, and some can never seek it, fhough for the great majority of Chíleans that must be most desírable objective, If the Government can maximize the opportunítíes for uniting the nati.on through fair and just economic policies which will not bear dísproportionately heavily on those least able to carry them, and develop a dialogue with all sections of the community which wi 11 eventually lead to the return of a functioning democracy, it will open the way for Chile's full recovery from its traumatic experience, When the Government came into power, it did so to'save the nation from anarchy, and to the relief of most Chileans. That feeling of relief is sti,1I the Government's chief asset, despite appalling difficulties and hardships, afld it can count on the people's response to firm, but fair, government in the national interes!. 20