Course Title
Business, Economics, and Politics of Natural Resources in Chile
Professor
Daniella Reichstetter T’07
Adjunct Professor of Business Administration
Date
November 2025
Destination Cities
Santiago and the Atacama Desert
Course Description
This GIX explores the business, economics, and politics of Chile’s natural resource industries, focusing on lithium (48% of the world’s known reserves) and copper (the world’s top producer, supplying nearly 30% of global demand); agriculture, aquaculture, and wine; and solar and hydroelectric energy. These resources enable Chile to be a key player in global innovation. Through company visits and meetings with industry leaders, policymakers, and executives, students will gain firsthand insight into Chile’s resource-driven economy. Students will explore both Santiago, the capital, and the Atacama Desert, home to some of the world’s richest lithium and copper deposits. Visits to a key mining and production site will provide an in-depth look at extraction and processing, while discussions will cover the economic, environmental, and geopolitical realities of resource production and extraction. The Atacama’s stunning landscapes also offer opportunities for adventure and a glimpse of regional life in contrast to Santiago.