Navy and army officers rather than air force leaders were assigned leading economic policy positions, and both neoliberal and gremialist academics were called into key advisory positions (see Cañas Kirby 1997, 61f.). The more technical aspects of the ministry’s tasks were designed and carried out by civilian undersecretaries. Pinochet himself made such staffing decisions, and thus the leading civilian positions involved a dual allegiance: to the minister in charge (typically a military man) and directly to Pinochet. This configuration is important in understanding the long-term trajectory of the reform policies instituted under the military regime: Although there were frequent changes at the minister level, the reform team worked continuously in loyalty to Pinochet.

Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin, loc. 1571