Uploaded January 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
In November 2023, Argentina elected Javier Milei, a libertarian economist armed with a chainsaw and a bold plan to rescue the country from decades of decline. Facing 142% inflation, a crumbling peso, and 40% poverty, Milei slashed spending, deregulated markets, and delivered a historic budget surplus - all within a year.
Sam Bidwell dives into Milei’s radical reforms, exploring the challenges that have made them necessary. He traces the country’s rise as a global economic powerhouse in the early 20th century, its decline through years of government intervention and Peronism, and its resurgence under Milei’s leadership.
Discover how this fiery libertarian turned Argentina’s economic fortunes around - and what the world can learn from his audacious blueprint for recovery.
🔗 Subscribe for more insights on global economics, history, and leadership!
🔗 Check out our website for more economics content: adamsmith.org
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Start
00:53 Golden Years
02:59 Decline of Argentina
05:20 Peron
08:47 The Legacy of Peronism
11:56 After the Falklands
15:38 Javier Milei
18:17 Challenges
24:31 Lesson for the UK and the wider world
In November 2023, Argentina elected Javier Milei, a libertarian economist armed with a chainsaw and a bold plan to rescue the country from decades of decline. Facing 142% inflation, a crumbling peso, and 40% poverty, Milei slashed spending, deregulated markets, and delivered a historic budget surplus - all within a year.
Sam Bidwell dives into Milei’s radical reforms, exploring the challenges that have made them necessary. He traces the country’s rise as a global economic powerhouse in the early 20th century, its decline through years of government intervention and Peronism, and its resurgence under Milei’s leadership.
Discover how this fiery libertarian turned Argentina’s economic fortunes around - and what the world can learn from his audacious blueprint for recovery.
🔗 Subscribe for more insights on global economics, history, and leadership!
🔗 Check out our website for more economics content: adamsmith.org
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Start
00:53 Golden Years
02:59 Decline of Argentina
05:20 Peron
08:47 The Legacy of Peronism
11:56 After the Falklands
15:38 Javier Milei
18:17 Challenges
24:31 Lesson for the UK and the wider world
