Alejandro Foxley
Encyclopedia
Alejandro Tomás Foxley Rioseco (born 1939 in Viña del Mar
) is a Chilean economist
and politician. He was the Foreign Minister of Chile
from 2006 to 2009 and previously served as Minister of Finance
from 1990 to 1994 and leader of the Christian Democrat Party
from 1994 to 1996.
degree from the Catholic University of Valparaíso
and PhD
in Economics from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
. Over his life he has received various awards including three honorary doctorates
, the Great Insignia of Honor from Austria
, the Ordem Nacional Cruzeiro do Sul from Brazil
and the Order of Civil Merit from the King of Spain.
Foxley is married to Gisela Tapia Soko with two children and four grandchildren.
in 1973, Oxford University in 1975, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
in 1978, University of California, Berkeley
in 1981, University of California, San Diego
in 1985 and the University of Notre Dame
. He has written thirteen books on economics and the problems of democracy.
. He served as Minister of Finance from 1990 to 1994 and is regarded as one of the architects of the strong economic growth of the period. As Finance Minister he was also a governor of the Inter-American Development Bank
and the World Bank
. Following his period as Finance Minister Foxley was elected leader of the Christian Democrat Party in 1994, serving until 1996.
In 1998 Foxley was elected a member of the Senate of Chile
for Santiago East. In the Senate he was the Chairman of the Finance Committee for four years until he stood down from the Senate in 2006. During his period in the Senate he was seen as a possible Presidential candidate but backed the candidacy of Michelle Bachelet
in the Presidential election. Bachelet appointed him as Foreign Minister in March 2006 following her victory in the election. In March 2009 Foxley resigned as Foreign Minister for personal reasons and to pursue other interests.
Viña del Mar
Viña del Mar , is a city and commune on central Chile's Pacific coast. Its long stretches of white sandy beaches are a major attraction for national and international tourists. The city is Chile's main tourist attraction. Known as "La Ciudad Jardín" , Viña del Mar is a Chilean Municipality located...
) is a Chilean economist
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
and politician. He was the Foreign Minister of Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
from 2006 to 2009 and previously served as Minister of Finance
Ministry of Finance (Chile)
The Ministry of Finance of Chile is the cabinet-level administrative office in charge of managing the financial affairs, fiscal policy and capital markets of Chile; planning, directing, coordinating, executing, controlling and informing all financial policies formulated by the President of...
from 1990 to 1994 and leader of the Christian Democrat Party
Christian Democrat Party of Chile
The Christian Democratic Party is a political party in Chile and governs as part of the Coalition of Parties for Democracy coalition. In the 2009 election it won 19 congress seats and 9 senate seats....
from 1994 to 1996.
Education and personal life
Foxley received a Chemical EngineeringChemical engineering
Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with physical science , and life sciences with mathematics and economics, to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms...
degree from the Catholic University of Valparaíso
Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso
The Pontificial Catholic University of Valparaíso , is a university of approximately 11,000 students located in Valparaíso, Chile....
and PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in Economics from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
. Over his life he has received various awards including three honorary doctorates
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
, the Great Insignia of Honor from Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, the Ordem Nacional Cruzeiro do Sul from Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and the Order of Civil Merit from the King of Spain.
Foxley is married to Gisela Tapia Soko with two children and four grandchildren.
Economist and writer
Foxley has taught at various universities including the University of SussexUniversity of Sussex
The University of Sussex is an English public research university situated next to the East Sussex village of Falmer, within the city of Brighton and Hove. The University received its Royal Charter in August 1961....
in 1973, Oxford University in 1975, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
in 1978, University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
in 1981, University of California, San Diego
University of California, San Diego
The University of California, San Diego, commonly known as UCSD or UC San Diego, is a public research university located in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, California, United States...
in 1985 and the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
. He has written thirteen books on economics and the problems of democracy.
Political career
Foxley was appointed to the first Chilean cabinet after the restoration of democracy by Patricio AylwinPatricio Aylwin
Patricio Aylwin Azócar was the first president of Chile after its return to democratic rule in 1990, following the military dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet.- Early life :...
. He served as Minister of Finance from 1990 to 1994 and is regarded as one of the architects of the strong economic growth of the period. As Finance Minister he was also a governor of the Inter-American Development Bank
Inter-American Development Bank
The Inter-American Development Bank is the largest source of development financing for Latin America and the Caribbean...
and the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
. Following his period as Finance Minister Foxley was elected leader of the Christian Democrat Party in 1994, serving until 1996.
In 1998 Foxley was elected a member of the Senate of Chile
Senate of Chile
The Senate of the Republic of Chile is the upper house of Chile's bicameral National Congress, as established in the current Constitution of Chile.-Composition:...
for Santiago East. In the Senate he was the Chairman of the Finance Committee for four years until he stood down from the Senate in 2006. During his period in the Senate he was seen as a possible Presidential candidate but backed the candidacy of Michelle Bachelet
Michelle Bachelet
Verónica Michelle Bachelet Jeria is a Social Democrat politician who was President of Chile from 11 March 2006 to 11 March 2010. She was the first woman president of her country...
in the Presidential election. Bachelet appointed him as Foreign Minister in March 2006 following her victory in the election. In March 2009 Foxley resigned as Foreign Minister for personal reasons and to pursue other interests.