Chile

1. Chile By: Kierra Kilgoe

2. Culture • Ethnic Groups- White and White-American Indian 95.4%, Mapuche 4%, Other Indigenous groups 0.6%. • Language- Spanish (official), Mapudungun, German, English. • Religion- Roman Catholic 70%, Evangelical 15.1%, Jehovah's Witness 1.1%, other Christian 1%, other 4.6%, none 8.3%. • People with aids - 40,000country comparison to the world: 62. • Life Expectancy to birth- total population: 77.7 years country comparison to the world: 56 male: 74.44 yearsfemale: 81.13 years.

3. Economy • Chile has a market-oriented economy characterized by a high level of foreign trade and a reputation for strong financial institutions and sound policy that have given it the strongest sovereign bond rating in South America. Exports account for more than one-fourth of GDP, with commodities making up some three-quarters of total exports. Copper alone provides one-third of government revenue. • Unemployment rate- 8.7% country comparison to the world: 100 9.6%. • Public Debt- 6.2% of GDP country comparison to the world: 127 6.1% of GDP. • Agriculture- grapes, apples, pears, onions, wheat, corn, oats, peaches, garlic, asparagus, beans; beef, poultry, wool; fish; timber. • The economy started to show signs of a rebound in the fourth quarter of 2009, and GDP grew more than 5% in 2010. Chile achieved this growth despite the magnitude 8.8 earthquake that struck Chile in February 2010, which was one of the top ten strongest earthquakes on record. The earthquake and subsequent tsunamis it generated caused considerable damage near the epicenter, located about 70 miles from Concepcion - and about 200 miles southwest of Santiago.

4. Government • Chile has three branches of the government Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. • Chile is governed under the constitution of 1981 as amended. It is a multiparty democracy with a directly elected president who serves a four-year term (six-year prior to the constitutional amendments of 2005). The president may not be elected to consecutive terms. The bicameral legislature consists of a 38-seat Senate, whose members are elected to serve eight-year terms, and a 120-seat Chamber of Deputies, whose members are elected for four years. Administratively, Chile is divided into 13 regions.

5. Elections • All citizens of Chile as well as foreigners legally residing in Chile for at least five years. Who are 18 years of age or older on the day of the election, are eligible to enroll and subsequently vote in the elections. Enrollment in Chile is voluntary, however, once electors are registered, voting is compulsory for any future election, except for foreigners, whose vote is always voluntary. Chileans are not allowed to vote overseas. In April 2009, the country's constitution was modified so that the vote is voluntary and registration automatic. The new system will not come into effect until the organic law regulating it is approved and published.

6. Major Problems • Many economists advocate the use of tradable water rights as the most efficient system for allocating scarce water resources among alternative economic uses. According to this view, a private market in tradable water rights would maximize the economic value of the resource; would help to reduce costly public infrastructure investment and would foster private investment in irrigation. The case of Chile, which in 1981 established a system of tradable water rights, is fairly unique and provides important lessons for other LCDs. The paper reviews the major issues and controversies that have surrounded the practical implementation of this system in Chile.

7. Political Faction • After 1855 the conservative element, supporting the hegemony of the church, had allied with the liberals in opposing President Montt. The radicals joined the alliance against Montt. Jose Joaquin Perez (1861–71), though elected with the support of the “nationalists,” governed with the help of the liberal-conservative alliance. A division in the dominating political classes occurred about 1872, when the liberals started to draw away from the conservatives; the liberals succeeded in ending the Roman Catholic Church’s monopoly in religious matters.

8. Definitions of the words from my Business class • Market Oriented-Business approach or philosophy that focuses on identifying and meeting the stated or hidden needs or wants of the customers. • Commodities -is a good for which there is demand, but which is supplied without quality difference across a market. • Magnitude -a one-man party with bold urban flavor whose catchphrase is "Pop pop!“ • Subsequent-Following in time or order; succeeding. • Multiparty Democracy- A multi-party system is a system in which multiple political parties have the capacity to gain control of government separately or in coalition. • Bicameral- is the practice of having two legislative. • Chamber of Deputies- is the name given to a legislative body such as the lower house.