Nicolás Eyzaguirre

Nicolás Eyzaguirre Guzmán (born 3 January 1953 in Santiago) is a Chilean economist who was Minister of Finance in Chile^[1] between 2000 and 2006. He is the son of architect Joaquín Eyzaguirre and well-known actress Delfina Guzmán. He received his secondary education at the elite Colegio Verbo Divino private school.

A music enthusiast, at the age of 15 Eyzaguirre was admitted to the University of Chile Conservatory to study classic guitar, being lured by the Nueva canción movement. With his brother, Joaquín, he part was of the folk group Aquelarre, composing titles such as, The captive of Tiltil and Valparaíso.

Eyzaguirre begun his career in politics as a member of the Christian Democrat Party, and then migrated to the Christian Left Party and then to the Communist Party, where he stayed until his departure to the United States. He graduated as a Commercial Engineer with a mention in Economy at the University of Chile, and obtained his Masters degree in Economy at the same university, specializing in economic development. Later, he traveled to the United States to obtain a Doctorate in Macroeconomics and International Trade from the University of Harvard, which he never completed.

Eyzaguirre's time at Harvard changed his vision on economics. He later admitted to having been mistaken in his Communist ideology, and that adopting the principles of the free commerce was more sound and rational.

Back in Chile, Eyzaguirre became acquainted with and befriended Ricardo Lagos, with whom he later joined the Party for Democracy, his current party affiliation.

Between 1984 and 1985 evolved like international and consulting adviser of the International Monetary Fund. Later, between 1985 and 1990, the Caribbean in the Cepal worked like expert in Monetary and Financial Policy for Latin America.

With the return of the democracy, being 1990 and 1997, develops to important functions in the Central bank of Chile, occupying the positions of adviser, manager and director of Studies of this institution.

On 11 March 2000, he took the oath like Minister from Property of the government of Ricardo Lagos. Its policy has been to continue and to perfect the system of free market as it forms to draw for the sequels of the Asian crisis that left to Chile with high suspension and low growth during the first years of the government. It obtained a balance in the fiscal accounts and a combat to the inflation, leaving it to historical minimums, isolating to the country of many economic crises untied in Latin America during his management, the one that has given fruits reflected in the growth of year 2004 and 2005, recovering a growth of a 6%.

Eyzaguirre, in spite of its popularity, preferred to marginalize of the cabinet of Michelle Bachelet in spite of its proximity with the elect President. After six years in the Ministry of Property, Eyzaguirre became the person with more years in that portfolio in the history of Chile. Some people have postulated it like possible candidate to the presidency in the elections of 2009, something that Eyzaguirre has not discarded either sharply.

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