Domingo 22 de Marzo de 2026
- UF: $39.841,72
- Dólar: $920,52
- IPC: -0,20%
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The Department of Economics was founded in 1935 and since then has positioned itself nationally and internationally as one of the country’s most dynamic and prestigious centers for economic teaching and research. Historically, it is recognized as a breeding ground for outstanding economists who, from both the public and private sectors, have made significant contributions not only in the economic field but also in politics and the country’s development. Among its graduates are several national authorities (Presidents of the Republic, Ministers of State, and Presidents of the Central Bank of Chile) and of international institutions (IMF, World Bank, IDB, and the OECD).
The professors of the Department of Economics continuously conduct academic and applied research on topics of utmost relevance. The academic research work includes projects funded by FONDECYT, work for the Network of Research Centers organized by the IDB, and publications in journals of international relevance.
Markets for factors of production, and the labor market in particular, are areas of specific study both because of their importance as a source of economic growth and because they directly involve people and their development. The Department of Economics at the University of Chile has a long history of analyzing the labor market and has contributed for nearly 50 years to generating primary data on its behavior through the Employment Survey conducted by its Microdata Center. Studies on the determinants of wages and employment, labor force participation, and the comparative situation between men and women are some of the recurring themes in this field.
Macroeconomics, through the analysis of aggregate variables, studies the determinants of economic cycles and seeks to generate policies to reduce fluctuations. The role of monetary and fiscal policy, and the role of institutions, such as the autonomy of the Central Bank and the predictability and consistency of its policies, are elements that have been central to the interest of academics in the Department of Economics.
One of the most relevant, yet least understood, factors of production is technology. The significant externalities associated with knowledge and technological diffusion call for an active role on the part of the State. Therefore, the analysis of the institutional framework for specialized development and the impact of a set of policies promoting production and technology are highly relevant topics of study. In addition to studying the aforementioned topics, the Department of Economics has focused on analyzing policies regarding institutional design to enable a significant increase in the adoption of technologies that will allow Chile to approach the standards of developed countries in this area.
Economic growth allows countries to provide more goods for their populations, so studying the determinants of that growth allows for the formulation of policies that increase the likelihood of well-being. Economic development, however, is a broader concept that, in addition to growth, considers how its benefits affect other aspects such as equality and the sustainability of that growth.
Market organization and regulation investigates the conditions that promote and inhibit economic competition in markets, and the forms of public intervention that allow for better allocation of resources and improved consumer welfare. The Department has developed an active research agenda on these topics, and also actively participates in public debate and policy design in this area.
Economic Theory seeks, based on basic hypotheses, to develop abstract models that allow us to analyze and characterize the behavior of economic agents, and the effect that their decisions have on different economic variables.