The President of CNEP, Raphael Bergoeing, delivered a masterclass at Santo Tomás University

The President of CNEP, Raphael Bergoeing, delivered a masterclass at Santo Tomás University titled “Productivity and Prosperity in Chile,” marking the commencement of the academic year. Drawing on insights from economist Paul Krugman, who famously stated, “Productivity isn’t everything, but in the long run, it is almost everything,” Bergoeing underscored the critical role of productivity in determining a country’s standard of living over time.

Highlighting Chile’s stagnant productivity over the past 15 years as a primary driver of the economy’s low growth, Bergoeing emphasized the urgent need for measures to enhance productivity. He pointed out the absence of a structured system for evaluating public policies in Chile, stressing the necessity for institutional solutions focused on long-term strategies. Despite acknowledging that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, he noted the importance of implementing a series of reforms, even if they are modest individually, to improve productivity, particularly by enhancing management processes.

Bergoeing also discussed findings from CNEP’s research on the Competence Training System for Work in Chile, revealing concerning statistics such as the high percentage of high school graduates not entering higher education or failing to complete their studies. He underscored the disconnect between education and the labor market in Chile, emphasizing the importance of aligning educational offerings with the needs of businesses to ensure practical relevance and application.

In conclusion, Bergoeing emphasized the need for fundamental pillars like diversity, adaptability, and complementarity in the institutional management of the State, particularly in the face of constant and unpredictable changes and challenges.