The Introduction of the Automotive Catalytic Converter in Chile

The regional Special Commission for Decontamination of Chile's capital, Santiago, was formed in 1990. The issue of regulating passenger car emissions was one of the first initiatives on the commission's agenda, empowering a group of consultants and administrators to set up a structure for the transition in legal, economic, and commercial terms. In April 1992 the first car with a catalytic converter was sold as unleaded petrol became available, and from 1 September the same year a decree required every new car in the capital regions to be equipped with a catalytic converter. Chile thus introduced the automotive catalytic converter in little more than a year. It is argued that the critical factors for this process were the effective and efficient adoption and adaptation of foreign technology, policy, and market space, Chile's common understanding of the need to reduce emissions, and prevalent strong economic growth permitting widespread car ownership and renewal. © The London School of Economics and the University of Bath 2003