Nicolás Eyzaguirre

Who is Nicolás Eyzaguirre?

Nicolás Eyzaguirre Guzmán is a Chilean economist, and the current Minister of Education of his country, since March 2014. Previously, he was Chile's Minister of Finance between 2000 and 2006. He is the son of architect Joaquín Eyzaguirre and actress Delfina Guzmán.

Eyzaguirre received his secondary education at the elite Colegio Verbo Divino private school. A music enthusiast, at the age of 15 he was admitted to the University of Chile Conservatory to study classic guitar, being lured by the Nueva canción movement. With his brother, Joaquín, he part was of the folk group Aquelarre, composing titles such as, The captive of Tiltil and Valparaíso.

Eyzaguirre began his career in politics as a member of the Christian Democrat Party, and then migrated to the Christian Left Party and then to the Communist Party, where he stayed until his departure to the United States. He graduated as a Commercial Engineer with a mention in Economy at the University of Chile, and obtained his Masters degree in Economy at the same university, specializing in economic development. Later, he traveled to the United States to obtain a Doctorate in Macroeconomics and International Trade from the University of Harvard, which he never completed.