The Consequences of CIA-Sponsored Regime Change in Latin America

23 Pages Posted: 18 Oct 2021

See all articles by Samuel Absher

Samuel Absher

Texas Tech University

Kevin B. Grier

Texas Tech University

Robin Grier

Texas Tech University - Free Market Institute

Date Written: October 2021

Abstract

The CIA intervened regularly in Latin America politics during the Cold War, in some cases going as
far as bringing about regime change. While these interventions may have been considered successful from the US perspective, it is less clear what the economic and political consequences were for the citizens in the affected countries. We study the economic and political effects of CIA-sponsored regime change in Latin America and find that these actions caused moderate declines in real per capita income and large declines in democracy scores. Our findings should make any evaluation of US foreign policies regarding regime change more negative and support the idea that foreign political interference can cause real damage.

Keywords: Regime Change, Foreign Intervention, Economic Growth

JEL Classification: N16, H56, F5

Suggested Citation

Absher, Samuel and Grier, Kevin B. and Grier, Robin, The Consequences of CIA-Sponsored Regime Change in Latin America (October 2021). Free Market Institute Research Paper No. 3942920, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3942920 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3942920

Samuel Absher

Texas Tech University ( email )

2500 Broadway
Lubbock, TX 79409
United States

Kevin B. Grier (Contact Author)

Texas Tech University ( email )

2500 Broadway
Lubbock, TX 79409
United States

Robin Grier

Texas Tech University - Free Market Institute ( email )

Box 45059
Lubbock, TX 79409-5059
United States

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