The contribution of Raúl Prebisch during the Alfonsín government (1984): controversies around macroeconomics and economic reactivation

Economic history and economic policy have not yet paid enough attention to the years of Raúl Alfonsín (1983-1989), especially in relation to other periods of Argentine history. The available studies addressed, to a greater extent, other episodes of economic policy such as the 1985 Austral Plan rather than the immediate transition and the first economic plan pivoted by Bernardo Grinspun (1983-1985). In this work we propose to analyze that first phase of the Alfonsín government led by the then-advising economist Raúl Prebisch. Particularly, the source Guidelines for an immediate reactivation program is studied, although combined with other journalistic, statistical and testimonial documents. According to it, the economic program analyzed allows us to highlight Prebisch's participation in the democratic government, especially around the formulation of a stabilization plan aimed at recovering economic growth and reducing inflation.