The Political Economy of Reform

The March 30 Program was to serve as a blueprint for reorganizing the political economy. ¹ It was announced and defended by the President in a series of speeches and then submitted to the electorate in a plebiscite. Thereby, it was raised to the status of a ‘Document of the Revolution’. Its intention was to moderate the escalating political conflict. There was something in it for just about every group, but the overall tone of the document was decidedly liberal. Political rights were to be guaranteed and political activity was to be regulated through a routinized process of election. The economy would be liberalized. A broader scope for private activity was envisioned. Incentives and reward by merit would be the primary motivator of economic activity and a depoliticization of the public sector would take place.