Changes

==Economy==

==Economy==

[[File:GNP-CHILE.jpg|thumbnail|left|Chile's Take off thanks to Pinochet economic reforms.]]

[[File:GNP-CHILE.jpg|thumbnail|left|Chile's Take off thanks to Pinochet economic reforms.]]

[[File:Gran Torre Santiago (39693576311).jpg|thumbnail|200px|Gran Torre Santiago, in the financial district of the city.]]

[[File:Gran Torre Santiago (39693576311).jpg|thumbnail|300px|Gran Torre Santiago, in the financial district of the city.]]

[[File:Chuqui001.jpg|thumbnail|200px|Chuquicamata Copper mine, the largest open pit copper mine in the world.]]

[[File:Chuqui001.jpg|thumbnail|200px|Chuquicamata Copper mine, the largest open pit copper mine in the world.]]

After a decade of impressive growth rates, Chile began to experience a moderate economic downturn in 1999, brought on by unfavorable global economic conditions related to the Asian financial crisis, which began in 1997. The economy remained sluggish until 2003, when it began to show clear signs of recovery, achieving 3.3% real GDP growth. The Chilean economy finished 2004 with growth of 6.1%. Real GDP growth reached 6.3% in 2005 before falling back to 4.0% growth in 2006. Higher energy prices as well as lagging consumer demand were drags on the economy in 2006. Higher Chilean Government spending and favorable external conditions (including record copper prices for much of 2006) were not enough to offset these drags. For the first time in many years, Chilean economic growth in 2006 was among the weakest in Latin America. In May 2010 Chile signed the OECD Convention, becoming the first South American country to join the OECD.  

After a decade of impressive growth rates, Chile began to experience a moderate economic downturn in 1999, brought on by unfavorable global economic conditions related to the Asian financial crisis, which began in 1997. The economy remained sluggish until 2003, when it began to show clear signs of recovery, achieving 3.3% real GDP growth. The Chilean economy finished 2004 with growth of 6.1%. Real GDP growth reached 6.3% in 2005 before falling back to 4.0% growth in 2006. Higher energy prices as well as lagging consumer demand were drags on the economy in 2006. Higher Chilean Government spending and favorable external conditions (including record copper prices for much of 2006) were not enough to offset these drags. For the first time in many years, Chilean economic growth in 2006 was among the weakest in Latin America. In May 2010 Chile signed the OECD Convention, becoming the first South American country to join the OECD.