Agendas
Argentina’s tax structure is shaped by multiple factors: persistent macroeconomic instability and the resulting urgent constraints, a heterogeneous productive base marked by high levels of informality, an unresolved system of fiscal federalism, and the varied responses of successive governments to rising public spending. At Fundar, we consider it critical to advance toward a comprehensive reform that addresses not only the amount of revenue collected, but also the composition of the tax system, its administration, and coordination among the different levels of government. Long-deferred yet essential issues—such as revenue sharing and export duties—have been the focus of our in-depth research. At Fundar, our goal is to contribute to sound public financing through a simple, progressive, and non-distortionary tax system that enhances competitiveness, encourages formalization, and reinforces long-term fiscal sustainability.
Artificial intelligence impacts fields as diverse as education, agriculture, and justice, although the pace of adoption remains uneven in Argentina. AI creates enormous opportunities, but also poses risks that demand robust governance frameworks in terms of ethics, regulation, and technical capacities. At Fundar, we advocate for a national strategy that promotes AI adoption by both the State and private enterprises, grounded in a realistic approach that focuses on inclusive development.
The State is the main producer of data, yet this strategic public asset remains underutilized as a tool for improving governance. At Fundar, we work to transform data into collective assets: we promote quality standards, reliable exchange mechanisms, and ethical safeguards. We envision a State that uses information transparently and effectively to design inclusive policies and respond to challenges with evidence.
Globalization and technological change have transformed the labor market, rendering certain regulations and institutions obsolete. In response, at Fundar, we propose a labor reform that addresses these transformations in a balanced yet ambitious way—one that facilitates firms’ production of goods and services while simultaneously improving job quality and expanding labor rights. In this context, key instruments of collective bargaining, such as income policies, must not be overlooked.
Institutions and processes underpinning public policy are often presumed to be neutral, expected to deliver equitable outcomes for men, women, and other gender identities. Yet, achieving true equality requires intentional action. Mainstreaming a gender perspective across policy design, planning, and governance is vital, as it helps reveal hidden inequalities, sharpen our decision-making, and break down the barriers that perpetuate inequity. At Fundar, we contend that developing policies and capacities through this crucial lens is essential for generating well-being across all gender identities, particularly in light of the 21st century’s demographic, energy, and digital transitions.
Argentina requires a smart strategy for international insertion, one that strengthens the development of its productive apparatus while incorporating social and environmental standards. Argentina now faces the challenge of finding its own place in the world and in the region amidst the current global trade war. At Fundar, we argue that Argentina must pursue a strategy focused on developing and strengthening productive capabilities, with a strong regional approach and a clear understanding of the initiatives advanced by the countries of the Global South.
Argentina’s economy maintains a dual currency system, which can be attributed to persistent high inflation and disruptive events such as devaluations, sovereign debt defaults, and deposit freezes. There are two alternative approaches to this challenge: pursuing dollarization or strengthening the national currency. Fundar maintains that rebuilding trust in the peso and preserving the core instruments of monetary policy are essential prerequisites for development, since no country can progress without its own national currency.
On and off, Argentine public policy has sought to promote mining development for over three decades. Despite the sector’s significant growth, it has yet to fully translate its potential into economic, technological, and social benefits. At Fundar, we consider mining to be a key industry for national development. However, its growth requires addressing tax-related issues, strengthening local suppliers, and ensuring socio-environmental governance, so that mining can become one of the cornerstones of Argentina’s development.
Productive policy is undergoing a genuine revival in many parts of the world, driven by its ability to promote economic development and generate quality employment. In Argentina, consolidating strong and consistent productive policies is particularly crucial. However, the country’s productive fabric is far from homogeneous: it comprises sectors that vary in terms of their complexity, export capacity, dynamism, job creation, and relationship with the State. Designing an effective productive policy thus requires a comprehensive understanding of this sectoral structure. At Fundar, we analyze the specific characteristics of each sector and develop the policies needed to steer national development.
The State, as a fundamental instrument for transforming reality, must also transform itself. At Fundar, we work to build a strong State, one capable of steering growth toward inclusive and equitable development. In its current form, Argentina’s State apparatus is lagging behind, caught in inefficient procedures, low digitalization, and weak coordination. A modern State is built one step at a time, through institutions that learn, adapt, and respond to citizens’ demands.
In Argentina, social policy is largely oriented toward cushioning vulnerable sectors, mainly through transfer payments. However, this alone is insufficient to reverse structural poverty or expand people’s capabilities. At Fundar, we believe it is urgent to move toward a more ambitious social policy—one that guarantees rights, ensures access to high-quality public goods and services, and strengthens social cohesion. Ultimately, the best social policy is economic growth with equal opportunities.
Building the cities we aspire to live in requires integrating all social sectors. Socio-urban integration seeks to reverse urban segregation and social exclusion by improving structural conditions in Argentina’s 6,467 informal settlements and ensuring universal access to a dignified habitat—adequate housing, basic infrastructure, transportation, public spaces, and social services. Argentina has advanced along this path for years. At Fundar, we consider it essential to uphold it as a State policy, while innovating to enhance its scalability.
When it comes to sustainable development, Argentina possesses an exceptional and diversified energy mix: fossil fuels, solar, steady winds, global leadership in the nuclear energy sector, water resources, and biomass. The global energy transition therefore presents a dual challenge: to use fossil fuels intelligently in order to ensure energy supply and generate foreign currency, while at the same time accelerating the shift toward clean energies. Furthermore, addressing the economic and environmental crises of the 21st century requires deploying innovative financial instruments, such as green bonds, sustainable bonds, and payments for ecosystem services. At Fundar, we argue that decarbonization should be approached pragmatically and flexibly, in order to make the most of available resources, minimize risks, and sustain a clear and consistent long-term strategy.
