Fifty Years On, the “Chicago Boys” Remain Difficult to Discuss

Edwards’ book comes out at a time when that legacy is being questioned; he is laudably direct and honest about flaws in the Chilean model, namely persistently severe inequality, that led to the 2019 protests and their (now uncertain) aftermath. Which is why it is such a disappointment that the author waits until the very end of his section on the Pinochet years to ask, “Did the Chicago Boys know about human rights violations?” and then dedicates barely three pages to the answer, lamely concluding: “We will never know for sure the facts on these thorny issues.” This is not just a matter of historical record; the question of whether and how Latin America’s economies can be effectively reformed under democracy is as relevant as ever in today’s context of stagnation and renewed social unrest. Edwards’ book suggests, in both its brilliance and its shortcomings, that the answer remains sadly elusive.