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| Liberty and Development (Chile) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Liberty and Development |
| Native name | Libertad y Desarrollo |
| Abbreviation | LyD |
| Country | Chile |
| Founded | 1990 (as think tank); 2016 (formal party association) |
| Ideology | Neoliberalism; Classical liberalism; Conservatism (economic) |
| Position | Right-wing |
| Headquarters | Santiago |
| Leader | Hernán Larraín (associated) |
Liberty and Development (Chile) is a Chilean political think tank and policy network that has influenced public debate, public policy, and political parties across Chile since the transition from the Pinochet era toward the Concertación and post-1990 democratic settlement. Founded by economists and intellectuals linked to the Chicago Boys, the organization has acted as a bridge between business associations, academic institutions, and conservative political actors in Santiago and beyond. LyD’s work has shaped debates on privatization, taxation, and regulatory reform and has provided cadres and policy blueprints for multiple electoral campaigns and administrations.
Liberty and Development traces its roots to the policy debates of the late 1980s and early 1990s following the end of the Military dictatorship of Chile (1973–1990). Founders included alumni of the University of Chicago economics program and members of the Instituto Libertad y Desarrollo network who sought to embed free-market prescriptions in the institutional architecture of post-dictatorship Chile. During the 1990s LyD positioned itself near conservative factions such as Renacimiento Nacional and later worked closely with figures from the Independent Democratic Union and the National Renewal (Chile) party. The organization expanded its profile in the 2000s through publications, seminars, and policy briefs aimed at legislators in the Chamber of Deputies (Chile) and the Senate of Chile, while maintaining ties to business groups like the Confederación de la Producción y del Comercio. In the 2010s LyD became more visible during debates over constitutional reform, pension reform, and tax policy, influencing actors in administrations led by figures associated with Sebastián Piñera.
Liberty and Development espouses a policy framework rooted in Neoliberalism, Classical liberalism, and market-oriented Conservatism (political ideology). Its policy positions emphasize privatization of state-owned enterprises, liberalization of labor markets, and low tax regimes proposed to stimulate investment from actors such as the Comisión para el Mercado Financiero and private pension funds like the Administradoras de Fondos de Pensiones. LyD has advocated for deregulation in sectors including telecommunications and mining, often citing comparative cases such as Chile’s 1980 Constitution reforms and regulatory models from United States think tanks and academic institutions. On social policy, the organization tends to favor decentralization proposals referencing institutions such as the Municipalities of Chile and legal frameworks like the Ley de Educación. LyD’s research frequently engages with jurisprudence from the Supreme Court of Chile and analyses of legislation passed by the National Congress of Chile.
Liberty and Development operates as a research institute with a board of directors, resident scholars, and a network of affiliated fellows drawn from universities such as the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile and the University of Chile. Leadership has included public intellectuals and former ministers who have served in cabinets under presidents linked to conservative coalitions like the Chile Vamos alliance. Senior fellows often hold concurrent roles in public service, joining cabinets, advisory councils, or municipal administrations; past affiliates have moved between LyD and institutions such as the Central Bank of Chile and the Ministry of Finance (Chile). Governance combines a research council, thematic program directors focused on sectors like health, social policy, and fiscal affairs, and an events team coordinating seminars with international partners from organizations such as the Inter-American Development Bank and foreign policy institutes.
Although primarily a think tank, LyD has functioned as a policy engine for parties and candidates rather than standing as an independent electoral formation. Its influence is visible in platforms advanced by the Independent Democratic Union and National Renewal (Chile), which used LyD studies during campaigns for seats in the Chamber of Deputies (Chile) and the Senate of Chile. During presidential contests—most notably campaigns involving Sebastián Piñera—LyD-affiliated experts contributed policy proposals on taxation, social insurance, and public-private partnerships. The organization’s impact is measurable in legislative outcomes on privatization, pension reform, and judiciary appointments debated in the Constitutional Convention (Chile, 2021–2022).
LyD has faced criticism from left-leaning parties such as the Socialist Party of Chile and civil society organizations including Movimientos sociales for promoting policies perceived as privileging private capital and deepening inequality. Critics cite LyD’s ties to corporate donors and business federations like the Sociedad de Fomento Fabril as sources of potential conflict of interest when LyD scholars take public office in ministries or regulatory agencies. During debates over education reform and pension privatization, student organizations and trade unions including the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores publicly contested LyD-backed proposals. Investigations and media outlets like national newspapers have spotlighted personnel overlaps between LyD and state institutions, prompting calls from parties such as Frente Amplio (Chile) for transparency and restrictions on revolving-door practices.
LyD maintains networks with international think tanks, academic centers, and donor institutions in the United States, Europe, and the Americas, fostering exchanges with groups tied to the Heritage Foundation, Cato Institute, and university departments at the London School of Economics. Regionally, LyD engages with policy forums convened by the Organization of American States and the Inter-American Dialogue, participating in conferences on trade agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership and bilateral economic relations with partners such as Peru and Argentina. Domestically, LyD aligns with business chambers, municipal leaders, and conservative parties within coalitions such as Chile Vamos to translate research into legislative agendas and electoral platforms.
Category:Political organisations based in Chile