The Americas: Chile's Left Covets the Fruits of Economic Success

Unemployment figures released last week, however, suggest that the economic recovery is running into trouble. Instead of declining, as the president promised, the rate of unemployment is increasing. This poses a serious challenge to Mr. Lagos, who promised during his 1999 campaign that 200,000 new jobs would be created this year. At 10.2%, up from 9.4%, the unemployment rate is an embarrassment for the administration. Chileans, who had become accustomed to the prosperity generated by the market reforms of the 1980s and early 1990s, are increasingly concerned about the country's economic future.