In memoriam Juan Carlos Cachanosky

     With the untimely death of Juan Carlos Cachanosky (13. 10. 1953 – 31. 12. 2015) we have not only lost a very dear and reliable friend. We have also lost a brilliantly insightful and resolute free-market scholar who managed to get so many things right and who could explain real world economic behavior with incision and clarity. Among the small number of true Austrians in Central- and South-America, identified with the European liberal tradition that produced such great thinkers as Ludwig von Mises or F. A. von Hayek, ‘Cacha’ as he was called by his friends, was one of the most enterprising minds, tirelessly working hard to turn his ideas into viable international projects. Despite his remarkable academic achievements in Austrian Economics, he always remained a generous and modest chap, who came as close to the vanishing ideal of an honest mind as perhaps human frailty will ever permit. With his dry sense of humor, his striking energy and passion for spreading sound economics, and his cheerfulness it was at all times intellectually very rewarding to be with or just around him. I feel privileged indeed to have been among his friends and collaborators.

    Juan Carlos Cachanosky studied Economics at the Catholic University of Argentina and was awarded a PhD by the International College of California. Following various academic appointments he was elected Director of Research at ESEADE, a major university and free market hub in Buenos Aires, Argentina. At the same time he successfully directed the Economics Department at the Catholic University in Rosario, Argentina. Among countless other important students, Juan Carlos served as the thesis advisor for Máxima Zorreguieta Cerruti, now Queen Máxima of the Netherlands. For well over a decade Juan Carlos was Dean of Universidad Francisco Marroquín’s Business School in Guatemala City, Guatemala. It was him who helped to push this unique place into an internationally recognized university. After hard work and until his premature death, he worked not only as professor and academic President of CMT Group in Edinburgh (UK), but also as a close collaborator with ECAEF (LI) and the Liechtenstein Academy (LI). As a much sought after lecturer Juan Carlos Cachanosky was active on almost all continents, but his enterprising spirit was mostly appreciated in Central- and South America, in Scotland, and the Principality of Liechtenstein, possibly the last stand for sound economics and free market ideas. Cacha’s work developed from a comprehensive approach to various disciplines that condition and influence one another. His countless publications, especially in the field of monetary theory and the history of economic thought are fine cut jewels.

We at ECAEF and Liechtenstein Academy are very saddened and we will miss him dearly. Our heartfelt condolences go to his family.

Kurt R. Leube
Academic Director, European Center of Austrian Economics