For years, scholars have linked economic reforms to increased political backlash, particularly in Latin America during the 1980s-1990s 'lost decade'. This article challenges that assumption by exploring how these reforms actually dampen protest despite worsening economic conditions. The study uses innovative statistical methods called marginal structural models to account for complex selection biases and post-treatment effects - factors previous research overlooked. Key findings reveal a counterintuitive pattern: painful economic reform reduces political mobilization while heightening grievances. This depoliticizing dynamic helps explain the surprising durability of liberal economic policies across Latin America.
