Jorge Cauas
Jorge Cauas | |
|---|---|
Cauas in March 2009 | |
| Ambassador of Chile to the United States | |
| In office 23 March 1977 – 1978 | |
| President | Augusto Pinochet |
| Preceded by | Manuel Trucco Gaete |
| Succeeded by | José Miguel Barros |
| Minister of Finance | |
| In office 11 July 1974 – 31 December 1976 | |
| President | Augusto Pinochet |
| Preceded by | Lorenzo Gotuzzo |
| Succeeded by | Sergio de Castro |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 August 1934 |
| Died | 22 December 2023 (aged 89) |
| Party | Christian Democratic Party (until 1974) |
| Spouse | Rosario Montero Sánchez |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Columbia University |
| Alma mater | University of Chile |
| Occupation | Civil engineer, Economist, academic, consultant, and public official |
Jorge Elías Cauas Lama (13 August 1934 – 22 December 2023) was a Chilean engineer, economist, academic and politician. He served as Minister of Finance under the military government of General Augusto Pinochet between 1974 and 1976, where he led the first stage of the regime’s economic restructuring.
Born in San Felipe, he was trained as a civil engineer at the University of Chile and earned a master’s degree in economics from Columbia University as a Fulbright scholar. A prominent member of the Christian Democratic Party during the 1960s, Cauas was part of the technical team that advised the administration of President Eduardo Frei Montalva and held leading posts at the Central Bank of Chile.
As finance minister from 1974 to 1976, he introduced the "Economic Recovery Programme," implementing a fiscal and monetary shock plan aimed at stabilising inflation and restoring fiscal balance after the fall of the Popular Unity government.
Later, between 1977 and 1978, he served as Ambassador of Chile to the United States. After leaving public office, he became an influential business executive, chairing the Banco Santiago, the Compañía de Cervecerías Unidas, AFP Provida, and Entel Chile, as well as serving on the board of the Centro de Estudios Públicos.