Argentina: from world power to economic meme (and back again)

What do tango, inflation, and Javier Milei have in common?

The answer is simple: Argentina. A country that has experienced more plot twists than a Netflix series. HL Comedy Tours, We love telling stories that seem like fiction but are 100% real. And the history of Argentina It's a tragicomedy that deserves to be told... with humor.

1. The richest country in the world (yes, really)

At the end of the 19th century, Argentina It was a rising star on the global stage. In 1896, according to the Maddison Project, it led the world in GDP per capita. How did it achieve this?

Agro-export model: Argentina became the "breadbasket of the world", exporting meat, wheat and cereals to Europe.
Mass immigration: Between 1880 and 1914, millions of Europeans arrived who boosted the economy.
Foreign investments: British capital financed railways, ports, and banks.
Institutional stability: Functioning democracy, strong currency and expanding middle class.

Argentina was so rich that even stray dogs had French names.

2. The power of the 20th century

During the first half of the 20th century, Argentina maintained its status as a regional power:

He did not participate directly in World War I.
Buenos Aires was known as the Paris of South America.
In 1945, it was the eighth most industrialized country in the world.
Advanced education, a flourishing culture, and an enviable middle class.

But like all good tangos, the story had to turn towards drama…

3. The Tango of Decadence

From the 1930s onwards, the economy began to falter. Global crisis, falling exports, coups, inflation, foreign debt, bank runs, default… and more inflation.
Each decade brought its own economic disaster. And each president promised to be the one to fix it. Spoiler alert: no.

4. From Buenos Aires to Barcelona: the Argentine diaspora

The history of Argentina It's not just about charts... it's also about suitcases. In recent decades, millions of Argentinians have emigrated in search of stability, opportunities, and a coffee whose price doesn't change every week.

Spain, especially Barcelona, It has become one of the favorite destinations. The Buenos Aires accent is now part of the soundscape of Gràcia, Poblenou, and any coworking space with mate.

The Argentinian community in Spain numbers over 300,000. Many are young professionals, artists, entrepreneurs… and some simply wanted to live in a country where WiFi prices don't rise with inflation.

5. Javier Milei and the libertarian chainsaw

In 2023, Argentina elected Javier Milei as president. An economist, influencer, rocker, and free-market advocate, he arrived with a symbolic chainsaw to cut public spending and a viral phrase:

“Long live freedom, damn it!”

In October 2025, his party Freedom Advances It obtained more than 40% of the national vote and won in 16 provinces. It went from having 37 to 101 deputies and from 6 to 20 senators, consolidating a parliamentary majority.

In the president's own words:

“Today the people decided to leave behind 100 years of decline. Today begins the construction of a great Argentina.”

6. And what does this have to do with HL Comedy Tours?

Everything. Although in HL Comedy Tours We don't tell stories from Argentina (yet), but we have many Argentine clients who come on our tours. Barcelona, London and other cities.

Every week we welcome Argentinians who have emigrated because of the economic crisis, for love, for work, or because WiFi prices in Europe don't keep up with inflation. And while we don't talk about Milei in our scripts, we do talk about history with humor, and that's something Argentinians understand better than anyone.

On our tours you will discover:

What was the golden age of Argentina like in 1900?.
What happened in the 2001 corralito.
Why Javier Milei looks like he came out of an episode of South Park.
How Argentine humor has survived everything… even inflation, memes, and alfajor prices.