Throughout Latin America, Chile is renowned for its abundance of caution. In the 1980s, when neighboring governments borrowed heavily, overspent and suffered hyperinflation, Chile exercised characteristic frugality and emerged as a model of economic stability. When others put off infrastructure investments and allowed flimsy shantytowns to flourish around major cities, Chile buckled down and took care of the basics first.

When a catastrophic 8.8 earthquake rattled the country a week ago, the damage and casualties could have been far worse. Contrast Chile's death toll with Haiti's after its 7.0 earthquake in February. Chile's quake released about 500 times more destructive energy that Haiti's did, and yet the death toll was only in the hundreds, compared with more than 200,000 estimated dead in Haiti.

That wasn't just luck. Ever since a disastrous 9.5 earthquake in 1960, Chile has invested heavily in preparedness. It has dispatched engineers and architects to the United States to learn how to build according to the most rigid international standards.

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Posted by mopeng at March 5, 2010 10:59 AM