The country of inequality

 In one of Latin America’s most upright and safe countries, corruption is now rife in government and opposition forces, in the business and legal communities, and even in the Catholic Church.

It is raining in Santiago, Chile. It is a sad and dismal rain that matches the mood of the majority of Chileans currently struggling with a widespread crisis of distrust and scepticism. The ruling class is viewed as corrupt and ineffective. The government not only has been unable to implement promised reforms but also is failing to confront a crisis knocking at the country’s door as a result of the changing dynamics of globalisation. Meanwhile, an increase in crime (a relatively new problem in a nation considered to be one of the safest in Latin America until just a few years ago) has only heigthened the feel of vulnerability among the people.

According to a study by the University of Chile’s School of Economics and Business, the per capita monthly income of the nation’s 1,200 wealthiest citizens is “stratospheric”: 900,000 US dollars (roughly €850,000), a total annual income of over $10 million (€9.4m).A full 17% of Chile’s overall revenues line the pockets of 0.1% of its population, and more than 10% of total income goes to 0.01% of the population.

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