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Pedro Aguirre Cerda

president of Chile

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Pedro Aguirre Cerda was the president of Chile from 1938 to 1941. He represented the middle class and won the election with the support of a left-wing coalition, including the Radical, Socialist, and Communist parties.12

During his presidency, Aguirre Cerda focused on increasing industrial output. He established the Development Corporation (Corfo) in 1939 to reduce imports and develop domestic industries, primarily for consumer and intermediate goods. Chile remained neutral during World War II until 1942, when it declared war on Germany, Italy, and Japan. The war, along with the Korean War, benefited Chile's economy by increasing demand for copper, which in turn facilitated the expansion of public education and industrial development.12

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