In this special episode of the IEA podcast, host Tom Clougherty sits down with Axel Kaiser, a friend and advisor to Argentina's President Javier Milei, to discuss the libertarian economist's first year in power. Kaiser, who holds the Friedrich Hayek chair at Adolfo Ibanez University and is a senior fellow at the Atlas Centre for Latin America, provides insight into how Milei inherited a country with 25% monthly inflation, 50% poverty rates, and depleted central bank reserves
The discussion explores how Milei's radical economic reforms have begun showing results, with inflation dropping below 3% monthly and the peso stabilising. Kaiser explains how social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube helped Milei connect with young voters, securing nearly 70% of the vote among 16-24 year olds. He also details how Milei's straightforward communication about necessary spending cuts and anti-corruption efforts has maintained public support despite difficult economic adjustments.
Kaiser reflects on Argentina's potential influence on other countries facing fiscal challenges, suggesting that Milei's success could serve as a model for structural reforms in Europe and beyond. The conversation concludes with a look at what's ahead for Milei's administration and the broader implications for Latin American politics and economics.