Nearly 1,000 days into the current administration, economist Víctor Raúl Benítez has offered a critical assessment of Paraguay's economic trajectory, asserting that robust growth figures have not translated into tangible improvements for the population. In an interview reported by El Nacional, Benítez acknowledged positive macroeconomic indicators—including GDP expansions above 4% and occasionally near 6%—but stressed that “growth is not the same as development.”
Benítez highlighted a disconnect between macroeconomic stability and citizen well-being. “There is no transmission belt from that growth to the people,” he said, warning that broad sectors continue to face economic hardship, with purchasing power eroded by accumulated inflation.
The economist focused on structural inequality, noting that the richest 20% of Paraguayans capture more than half of all income generated, while the poorest 20% access less than 5%. He argued that this gap limits any possibility of equitable impact from economic expansion.
Benítez also criticized the government's transparency record, alluding to corruption allegations and patronage practices that, in his view, worsen inequity. He concluded that without deep changes in income distribution and institutional quality, Paraguay will continue to post positive indicators without achieving real development that benefits the majority.