Ricardo Lagos is a lawyer and one of the most influential economists in South America. He has advised all the governments in the South American continent on employment matters. It offers insights into global and South American politics and economics as well as in-depth insights into the global effects of climate change on the world’s leading economies. He has been the Minister of Education and Public Works of his country.
As President of the Republic of Chile (2000–2006), Lagos worked to liberalize Chilean society and boost civil powers over the military; Other constitutional reforms were approved, and crimes against human rights as well as other cases against Pinochet were brought before the courts of Justice.
He was Minister of Education under the presidency of Patricio Aylwin and of Public Works during the mandate of Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle.
Other important achievements were the signing of Free Trade Agreements with the European Economic Community, the United States, South Korea, the People’s Republic of China and New Zealand, Singapore and Brunei; improvements in infrastructure and transport and the creation of unemployment insurance.
In 2007 he was appointed special envoy of the UN for Climate Change and president of the Club of Madrid.
Ricardo Lagos is a Doctor of Economics from Duke University and was a professor at the University of North Carolina in the political science departments. He has received the title of Doctor Honoris Causa from prestigious universities such as the Autonomous University of Mexico and the University of Salamanca, among others. He obtained the Berkeley Medal, the highest distinction from the University of Berkeley, California.
He is currently visiting professor at Brown University (USA) and President of the Fundación Democracia y Desarrollo, which aims to explore alternatives for new development paths, promote citizen participation as a way to build a more just society and deepen democracy.
