When we become referents Peru? It is not clear, but the fact is that the current president, Alan Garcia, whenever he can, does not hesitate to put Chile on the agenda. By Andres Benitez.
When we become the benchmark for Peru? It is not clear, but the fact is that the current president, Alan Garcia, whenever he can, does not hesitate to put Chile on the agenda. He did it during his campaign, then a maritime claim, and now with the idea that Peru will surpass Chile in economic matters. The last time to put term: "Every year that passes we will reduce by 5% the distance that separates us from Chile. I believe that by 2015 Peru will be in social terms a country exporters and qualitatively superior to Chile."
In contrast, Peruvian analysts take away. On the one hand, they recognize the economic changes that have taken the neighboring country in recent years but also warn the political tone of the discourse of Garcia, because speaking out against or beat Chile is always profitable. In any event, admitted that the idea of \u200b\u200bremoving the economic leadership to Chile, something unthinkable a few years ago, today it sounds attractive to Peruvians. "Of course, they add, it is unlikely that the Chileans are losing sleep about this."
But contrary to the opinion of analysts, the issue has been quite an echo in our country. Today, every time a Chilean company happens to cross the Peruvian border, or every time a ranking of economic performance speaks of the virtues of Peru, are facing a kind of panic. Yes, panic, because a country that is accustomed to think that America would be a copy of Finland, tell him you can win now Peru, is the worst case scenario. So bad are we?
The short answer is simple: we are losing the rhythm but we reach there at Peru's something else.
According to the latest IMD Competitiveness Report, Switzerland, Chile remains in place 26 to the 55 countries considered. We remain the number one in the region, but increasingly further away those countries that want to imitate. In fact, because while Chile decreases or stays in the rankings, countries like Ireland and Finland are moving fast. In other words, we left the big leagues and stayed as a promise.
must be said in defense of Chile, the region that no one has done very well. Except Peru. This country ranks first in the ranking. Debuts at number 35, that is, moved to second place in the region. Something that certainly surprised the Peruvians themselves, but the Chileans, unaccustomed to have a competitor so close. And if we add the silly speech of Alan García, then the picture is dark black.
What the numbers say
Well, let's talk about Peru. In objective terms, the Peruvian economy is a much poorer and smaller than Chile. Its GDP per capita is about U.S. $ 3,500, whereas in Chile is U.S. $ 10,000. Then, to reach Chile Peru has to grow at a rate much higher for a considerable period of time.
And the truth is that Peru has been showing growth rates higher than those of Chile. For example, during the past seven years, our neighbors have grown at an average rate of 7.1%, while Chile has made only 5.7%. But despite this, the figures do not add up.
If we assume that Chile is growing on average 5% and 7% Peru, our neighbors would take no less than 56 years to reach, which is literally impossible. This is because in history there is no country that has grown to 7 percent for so long, and because in the particular history of both countries, Chile has shown that economic stability and not Peru. Indeed, while this country has enjoyed a boom in recent times, the truth is that achieving long-term stability is a test that Peru has always failed.
Chile, by contrast, although is showing slower rates of growth, remains highly valued by their institutions. Thus, in the same rankings of competitiveness, our country is ninth in the world "government efficiency" and 22 º in "Business Efficiency." In other words, Chile has planted the groundwork for resuming growth, something in which Peru is far behind. Peru has yet to prove that their current situation is sustainable, while Chile should adjust their engines to resume growth.
short-term rental
But regardless of the long-term considerations, it is clear that today, Peru has haunted the international financial community, just how disappointed Chile.
Peru is seen as a land of opportunity, as it verifies the same Chilean companies have not hesitated to invest about U.S. $ 7,000 million in the neighboring country in recent years.
Paradoxically, in Chile it has been seen as a threat. CMPC's recent decision to move to Peru a plant due to high local energy costs, caused great concern. The same thing happened with the news that the financial group LarrainVial chose to build a real estate fund for $ 500 million in the neighboring country, led to a newspaper entitled "Peru ... our heels."
Well, it's clear that our heels, or the tread for long. Probably never. But the basic question is another. What is the problem that to Peru to do well? Because the truth is that, rather than a problem, the only Peruvian boom is good news for Chile.
First, because the last thing we need as a country is to have poor neighbors. Poverty breeds instability, and always know that this instability leads to political problems, which only serve to alienate investors from the region. That is, make it less attractive as a whole.
Second, the stability and growth are creating business opportunities for Chilean companies need to acquire competitive size to survive in the global market. It is therefore good news that our entrepreneurs go on to conquer Peru, to enlarge and diversify their investments. You can not fall into the small-town thing that invest outside of Chile is bad. The bad thing would be not to invest in Peru.
Third, because having competition is good. At least that is what we have preached for years. When Chile began its economic reform process for more than 30 years, was a threat and an opportunity for all. As a result, many countries changed and modernized their economies. Well, today that Chile seems to have lost the rhythm, it is important that others take the lead. That's the way to wake up once and for all.
Source: Journal
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