E4 · cycle-002.e4-chl

Chile, scripted, 30 years from 1996

30 simulations of 30 rounds from the 1996 position. Chile decides by the scripted method; scripted events: Global funding seizure in year 2, Global funding seizure in year 12, Core disaster in year 14, Trade bloc rupture in year 22, Legitimacy rupture in year 23, Severe pandemic in year 24.

Model 0.1.0 · graph 0.2.0 · parameters 0.1.0 · seeds 1–30 · elasticity sampled within each bracket

The same configuration in other cycles: cycle 3.

Every simulation · Compare with another experiment · More experiments like this

Not a forecast
Simulations of a structural model with seed parameter values, to compare methods and test the model. Other nations stay at their 2026 ratings throughout.

Outcome across simulations

The median at 2026, with the 10th to the 90th percentile of the 30 simulations under it.

Capability index
9.36 (−0.93)
From 10.29; 9.35 to 9.37
Rank by index
53
From 44; 53 to 54
Domains at Tier 1
1
From 0; 1 to 1
Tier rank
19
From 48; 19 to 19

Capability index by round

Rank by index, by round

Every objective at the position and at the horizon
Objective199610th percentileMedian90th percentileBetter
Capability indexprimary10.299.359.369.37higher
Rank by index44535354lower
Tier rank48191919lower
Domains at Tier 10111higher
Score sum733.2671.5672.1672.9higher
Goal-weighted score733.2671.5672.1672.9higher
Resilient score733.2672.2 (mean score sum over the simulations)higher

The capability index is the mean of the three dimensions, each the mean of its domains, each the mean of its groups. Tiers are Pareto layers within each domain; the tier rank orders nations by domains held at Tier 1, then Tier 2, and so on. The goal-weighted score is the score sum unless the experiment sets a goal. The primary objective is the one the experiment is judged on; every other objective is reported beside it.

Credits

What each round’s credits went on in the median simulation. Across all simulations, build took 82 per cent, buy took 0 per cent, partner took 18 per cent of the 1,622 credits a simulation spent on actions.

Against history

Started from a reconstructed 1996 position and played along the pathway and shocks Chile actually had, then scored against the 2026 ratings. A hold-out nation: never tuned to. The position is an estimate, so part of any error is the reconstruction's. The calibration summary across all fifty nations is on the cycle's page under Loop.

Index 1996
10.29
reconstructed
Observed 2026
10.61
the Index's rating
Simulated 2026
9.36
9.30 to 9.41
Skill against persistence
−1.54
group error 2.05 against 0.81 if nothing changed
Domain1996ObservedSimulatedBiasDirection
Critical Technology4.244.452.71 2.7–2.7−1.74wrong
Strategic Infrastructure11.9711.7911.83 11.8–11.9+0.04right
National Security7.797.576.44 6.4–6.5−1.12wrong
Human Capital11.1212.2812.66 12.6–12.7+0.38right
Information & Influence8.939.386.94 6.9–7.0−2.44wrong
Governance & Integrity12.9313.6413.07 13.0–13.1−0.56wrong
Financial Strength13.3413.2411.87 11.8–11.9−1.37wrong
Production & Innovation10.7211.018.99 8.9–9.1−2.02wrong
Trade & Investment11.5912.149.73 9.7–9.8−2.42wrong

The history it was played under: shocks and events

  • 1998 · S02 × 0.4 The Asian financial crisis and copper price slump tightened external financing, though Chilean capital controls and fiscal discipline cushioned the shock.
  • 2008 · S02 × 0.7 The global financial crisis cut trade and external credit sharply and pushed Chile's GDP down in 2009, prompting countercyclical stimulus.
  • 2010 · S07 × 0.9 The 8.8 Maule earthquake and tsunami damaged central Chile's infrastructure and economic core, requiring a major reconstruction effort.
  • 2018 · S01 × 0.3 US-China trade tensions and copper demand uncertainty disrupted Chile's main export market and value chains at the margin.
  • 2019 · S05 × 0.8 The October 2019 estallido brought mass protests over inequality, a legitimacy crisis for government and security forces, and a constitutional reform process.
  • 2020 · S10 × 0.9 COVID-19 overwhelmed health services at peaks and forced prolonged lockdowns and fiscal support, with high deaths per capita.

The pathway: what it prioritised, period by period

  • 1997–2000 · build · 5% each The Concertación governments deepened education reform, concession-built motorways, and pursued open regional trade after APEC and Mercosur associate membership. (Foundational Education, Transport Infrastructure, Trade Policy & Market Access)
  • 2001–2005 · partner · 5% each Ricardo Lagos's government negotiated the EU, US and South Korea free trade agreements while launching AUGE health guarantees and consolidating inflation targeting. (Trade Policy & Market Access, Health System Capability, Regulatory Governance & Strategic Controls, Monetary & Currency Capability)
  • 2006–2010 · build · 5% each Bachelet's first term prioritised social protection, pension reform, early childhood expansion and energy security after Argentine gas cuts. (Advanced Education, Energy Infrastructure, Early Childhood Development, Financial System Depth & Access)
  • 2011–2014 · build · 5% each Piñera's first government drove earthquake reconstruction, energy expansion, education quality improvements and entrepreneurship reforms. (National Resilience & Crisis Management, Energy Infrastructure, Foundational Education, Business Dynamism & Entrepreneurship)
  • 2015–2018 · build · 5% each Bachelet's second term introduced free higher education and tax reform, launched a constitutional process and accelerated renewables and energy storage. (Advanced Education, Fiscal Capacity & Public Finance, Political Institutions & Civic Participation, Energy Infrastructure)
  • 2019–2021 · build · 5% each After the 2019 estallido and during COVID-19, Chile strengthened public order response, crisis management and health capacity while running large fiscal support. (Internal Security & Order, National Resilience & Crisis Management, Health System Capability, Fiscal Capacity & Public Finance)
  • 2022–2026 · build · 5% each Gabriel Boric's government pursued the National Lithium Strategy, green hydrogen and renewables, social protection and expanded security investment amid rising crime concerns. (Resource Infrastructure, Energy Infrastructure, Social Infrastructure, Internal Security & Order)

Reconstruction notes (deepseek-v4-pro): The main uncertainties are the exact 1996 scores for hard-to-observe capabilities, especially military and intelligence, and the conversion of Chile's distinctive political and social shocks into the event library. The 1996 position also relies on comparative data that are coarser for soft power, research and innovation than for macroeconomic and trade indicators.

Report

Written from the simulation record by the loop's narrator. Every figure names the query it came from, in square brackets.

Batch cycle-002. Model 0.1.0, graph 0.2.0, parameters 0.1.0. 30 simulations, seeds 1 to 30; probes on 10. Every figure is a distribution over simulations of a structural model with seed parameter values; it shows what the model implies under these settings, not what will happen. Other nations are frozen at their 2026 ratings. No reconstructed historical data is used in this experiment.

Headline

Chile played 30 rounds from 1996 under the scripted method, with scripted events, 30 times. Its capability index moved from 10.29 to a median of 9.36 (−0.93), with 90 per cent of simulations between 9.35 and 9.37 [experiment_objectives].

Starting position

In 1996 the nation ranks 44 on the index against the frozen field, holds 0 of nine domains at Tier 1 and has a tier rank of 48. Its base income is 298 credits a year, calibrated so that its 2026 position is affordable with headroom for investment.

What was decided

A simulation spent a median of 1,622 credits on moves. The five groups that took most were Energy Infrastructure (build, 249 credits, 15.4 per cent); Advanced Education (build, 128 credits, 7.9 per cent); Foundational Education (build, 115 credits, 7.1 per cent); Internal Security & Order (build, 105 credits, 6.5 per cent); National Resilience & Crisis Management (build, 94 credits, 5.8 per cent) [experiment_decisions_by_group]. By mode: build 82 per cent, partner 18 per cent [experiment_decisions_by_group]. Concentration of spending (HHI) had a median of 0.072, and the most repeated action appeared in 60 per cent of rounds.

The leading domain by period: rounds 1 to 5, Human Capital; rounds 6 to 10, Human Capital; rounds 11 to 15, Human Capital; rounds 16 to 20, Human Capital; rounds 21 to 25, Governance & Integrity; rounds 26 to 30, Strategic Infrastructure [experiment_spend_by_period].

What the world did

A median simulation saw 6 shocks and 0 upside events. The most damaging per firing were S10 (30 firings in 30 simulations, −38.0 points each); S07 (30 firings in 30 simulations, −28.9 points each); S05 (30 firings in 30 simulations, −26.4 points each) [experiment_shocks].

The groups that lost most to shocks, per simulation: Fiscal Capacity & Public Finance −3.78; Trade Facilitation & Logistics −3.40; Monetary & Currency Capability −3.21; Investment Attraction & Projection −2.91 [experiment_shock_damage_by_group].

The edges that carried most change through the graph, per simulation: Advanced Education to Research Talent & Knowledge Creation (+0.83 points); Foundational Education to Advanced Education (+0.62 points); Transport Infrastructure to Trade Facilitation & Logistics (+0.12 points) [experiment_propagation_by_edge].

Where it ended

At 2026 the median rank is 53 (5th to 95th percentile 53 to 54), the median count of Tier 1 domains 1 (1 to 1) and the median tier rank 19; the resilient score, the mean score sum over simulations, is 672 [experiment_objectives].

Tier 1 probability changed most in: human capital (0 to 100 per cent of simulations) [experiment_tiers_by_round].

Why

Without shocks the index ends +2.077 higher on average, so the shocks cost about 2.077 index points [experiment_probe_attribution].

Holding instead of following this method changes the index by −1.244: that is the method's worth against doing nothing [experiment_probe_attribution].

Removing any single one of the five largest actions changes the index by between −0.016 and −0.001, for example 1997 build Foundational Education (15 credits) [experiment_probe_attribution]. The largest actions by credits come late, when income is highest, and are rarely the most valuable.

Removing the largest shock of a simulation raises the index by +0.600 on average [experiment_probe_attribution].

The replay probe reproduces the simulations exactly (index change 0.000000), so the attributions are clean [experiment_probe_attribution].

Surprises

tier_jump (warn): largest gain in one domain within five years: 5 tiers (30 simulations above 2).

saturation_low (warn): 100% of simulations end with a group at 0 that did not start there (median 1 groups).

retired_words (warn): e4-chl/report.md: 'simulations' 2 time(s), first near line 39; use 'simulations'.

The simulation furthest from the median (seed 15) ends −0.01 from it, with 6 shocks and 0 upside events [experiment_outlier_simulations].

Comparison

This is the baseline (hold) experiment, or there is none for this nation in the batch.

Against history (a hold-out nation): from a reconstructed index of 10.29 the model ends at 9.36, where the 2026 ratings put it at 10.61. Group scores miss by 2.05 points on average, against 0.81 for assuming nothing changed (skill −1.54); the change in each domain has the right sign in 22 per cent of domains. Furthest below history: information and influence (−2.44); furthest above: human capital (+0.38) [experiment_against_history]. The starting position is reconstructed, so part of the error is the reconstruction's.

What each decision and shock was worth

Counterfactual probes on the first 10 seeds: the same simulations with one thing changed, paired seed by seed. A removed decision or shock is taken out and the other decisions replayed unchanged, so the difference is that item's worth.

ProbeIndexScore sumTier 1For example
Hold instead of the method−1.244−90.7−1.00
No shocks+2.077+145.3+1.00
Replay of the recorded actions (must change nothing)0.0000.00.00
Without the 1st largest decision−0.015−1.20.001997 build Foundational Education (15 credits)
Without the 2nd largest decision−0.009−0.80.001997 build Transport Infrastructure (15 credits)
Without the 3rd largest decision−0.001−0.10.001997 build Trade Policy & Market Access (15 credits)
Without the 4th largest decision−0.015−1.20.001998 build Foundational Education (15 credits)
Without the 5th largest decision−0.009−0.80.001998 build Transport Infrastructure (15 credits)
Without the 1st largest shock+0.600+42.30.002020 S10 (-38.0 points)
Without the 2nd largest shock+0.528+37.20.002010 S07 (-28.9 points)
Without the 3rd largest shock+0.430+30.30.002019 S05 (-26.3 points)

Simulations

Three simulations told round by round, each on its own page: the one nearest the median index at the horizon, and those nearest the 10th and the 90th percentile. Every one of the 30 is listed with its outcome on the simulations page.

All 30 simulations

Events

How often each shock and upside event began across the simulations. Shocks come from the ten downside scenarios and upside events from the ten upside ones, at their yearly likelihood.

Event
Kind
Simulations
Mean round
Points
Trade bloc rupture S01Shock100 per cent22.0−11.2
Global funding seizure S02Shock100 per cent7.0−10.1
Legitimacy rupture S05Shock100 per cent23.0−26.4
Core disaster S07Shock100 per cent14.0−28.9
Severe pandemic S10Shock100 per cent24.0−38.0

Groups across simulations

Every capability group: its position, and its median and spread at the horizon across the simulations, with what the method spent on it.

73 of 73 groups

Capability group
Domain
1996
2026
Change
Levels invested
Credits
Advanced EducationHuman Capital11.5018.67 18.56 to 18.80+7.177.47128
Energy InfrastructureStrategic Infrastructure9.8116.51 16.46 to 16.58+6.708.35249
Foundational EducationHuman Capital12.0417.26 17.20 to 17.33+5.226.31115
Trade Policy & Market AccessTrade & Investment13.7317.77 17.66 to 17.83+4.046.73132
Early Childhood DevelopmentHuman Capital12.6015.90 15.87 to 15.93+3.304.2673
National Resilience & Crisis ManagementGovernance & Integrity12.4214.89 14.86 to 14.93+2.474.1294
Health System CapabilityHuman Capital12.3114.78 14.74 to 14.81+2.474.62112
Internal Security & OrderGovernance & Integrity12.6814.47 14.43 to 14.50+1.793.29105
Business Dynamism & EntrepreneurshipProduction & Innovation11.8013.27 13.24 to 13.28+1.473.0956
Regulatory Governance & Strategic ControlsGovernance & Integrity13.6715.08 15.06 to 15.09+1.412.6273
Political Institutions & Civic ParticipationGovernance & Integrity13.1014.29 14.24 to 14.34+1.192.3955
Transport InfrastructureStrategic Infrastructure11.7912.55 12.51 to 12.58+0.762.4259
Financial System Depth & AccessFinancial Strength13.6613.83 13.81 to 13.84+0.172.9673
Resource InfrastructureStrategic Infrastructure14.1114.25 14.17 to 14.37+0.141.5966
Nuclear DeterrenceNational Security0.000.00 0.00 to 0.000.000.000
Monetary & Currency CapabilityFinancial Strength14.0113.72 13.68 to 13.76−0.293.0373
Research Talent & Knowledge CreationHuman Capital9.298.96 8.72 to 9.16−0.330.000
Social InfrastructureStrategic Infrastructure12.3011.90 11.88 to 11.95−0.402.0366
Digital & AI CompetenceHuman Capital9.408.78 8.64 to 8.88−0.620.000
Technical & Vocational SkillsHuman Capital10.339.50 9.39 to 9.57−0.830.000
Advanced ManufacturingStrategic Infrastructure10.179.14 8.98 to 9.33−1.030.000
Lifelong Learning & ReskillingHuman Capital9.938.76 8.74 to 8.79−1.170.000
Communications & Digital InfrastructureStrategic Infrastructure12.8111.58 11.54 to 11.61−1.230.000
Fiscal Capacity & Public FinanceFinancial Strength14.7313.50 13.43 to 13.60−1.233.0794
Joint Command, Projection & SustainmentNational Security8.717.44 7.40 to 7.47−1.270.000
Connectivity, Cyber & Trust TechnologiesCritical Technology6.274.98 4.97 to 4.99−1.290.000
Justice System & Fundamental RightsGovernance & Integrity11.9710.68 10.66 to 10.70−1.290.000
Public Integrity & Anti-CorruptionGovernance & Integrity13.0611.77 11.72 to 11.82−1.290.000
Transparency, Oversight & AccountabilityGovernance & Integrity12.0210.72 10.70 to 10.73−1.300.000
Quantum TechnologiesCritical Technology2.901.55 1.54 to 1.55−1.350.000
Population HealthHuman Capital12.6811.32 11.24 to 11.39−1.360.000
Intelligence & AssessmentNational Security9.638.27 8.21 to 8.34−1.360.000
Culture, Language & Education DiplomacyInformation & Influence8.036.66 6.48 to 6.77−1.370.000
Cyber & Electromagnetic OperationsNational Security6.344.96 4.93 to 5.01−1.380.000
Semiconductors & Advanced ComputingCritical Technology1.390.00 0.00 to 0.00−1.390.000
Space TechnologiesCritical Technology2.370.98 0.96 to 0.99−1.390.000
Maritime PowerNational Security11.6110.21 10.17 to 10.24−1.400.000
Robotics & Autonomous SystemsCritical Technology4.523.06 3.03 to 3.10−1.460.000
Space, Aerospace & Defence InfrastructureStrategic Infrastructure6.444.95 4.91 to 5.00−1.490.000
Agriculture & Food InfrastructureStrategic Infrastructure14.2712.77 12.70 to 12.84−1.500.000
Land PowerNational Security10.408.89 8.81 to 8.92−1.510.000
Advanced Materials & ManufacturingCritical Technology4.913.40 3.38 to 3.40−1.510.000
Sensing, Timing & NavigationCritical Technology4.062.54 2.47 to 2.59−1.520.000
Air PowerNational Security9.648.12 8.07 to 8.18−1.520.000
Financial InfrastructureStrategic Infrastructure14.6413.10 13.06 to 13.15−1.540.000
Energy TechnologiesCritical Technology3.732.17 2.16 to 2.20−1.560.000
Strategic Strike & Missile DefenceNational Security5.704.12 4.02 to 4.20−1.580.000
Diaspora & Global CommunitiesInformation & Influence8.436.77 6.74 to 6.81−1.660.000
Space OperationsNational Security4.582.88 2.78 to 2.93−1.700.000
Artificial IntelligenceCritical Technology5.433.71 3.63 to 3.82−1.720.000
Force Generation & MobilisationNational Security11.289.54 9.48 to 9.57−1.740.000
Water, Sanitation & Waste InfrastructureStrategic Infrastructure13.3311.50 11.46 to 11.53−1.830.000
Government Effectiveness & Public AdministrationGovernance & Integrity14.5612.67 12.59 to 12.74−1.890.000
Alliances & Security CooperationInformation & Influence9.757.82 7.78 to 7.87−1.930.000
Development Cooperation & Global AssistanceInformation & Influence6.614.68 4.63 to 4.72−1.930.000
Innovation & CommercialisationProduction & Innovation8.966.96 6.93 to 6.99−2.000.000
Technology Adoption & DiffusionProduction & Innovation10.378.33 8.29 to 8.35−2.040.000
Biotechnology & Health TechnologiesCritical Technology6.794.74 4.72 to 4.76−2.050.000
Industrial & Sectoral BaseProduction & Innovation11.909.84 9.67 to 9.96−2.060.000
Diplomatic Statecraft & Global NetworksInformation & Influence10.788.71 8.65 to 8.75−2.070.000
Structural Transformation & ComplexityProduction & Innovation9.947.84 7.80 to 7.89−2.100.000
Economic Output & ProductivityProduction & Innovation11.258.94 8.86 to 9.02−2.310.000
Digital & Services TradeTrade & Investment10.648.25 8.22 to 8.29−2.390.000
Financial Regulation & IntegrityFinancial Strength13.9311.53 11.50 to 11.57−2.400.000
Sovereign Capital & External Financial PowerFinancial Strength10.007.57 7.53 to 7.64−2.430.000
Global Value Chain PositionTrade & Investment10.728.20 8.13 to 8.25−2.520.000
Financial Stability & Crisis ManagementFinancial Strength13.6911.07 10.99 to 11.14−2.620.000
Export Capability & SophisticationTrade & Investment11.218.38 8.32 to 8.44−2.830.000
Economic Leverage & DependenceTrade & Investment8.986.09 6.01 to 6.22−2.890.000
Information Environment & Strategic CommunicationInformation & Influence9.957.01 6.97 to 7.04−2.940.000
Labour & EmploymentProduction & Innovation10.817.78 7.73 to 7.82−3.030.000
Investment Attraction & ProjectionTrade & Investment12.799.71 9.68 to 9.76−3.080.000
Trade Facilitation & LogisticsTrade & Investment13.039.69 9.66 to 9.71−3.340.000

Checks

The automated checks run on this experiment before anything was written about it. A warning is a candidate finding for the improvement loop.

  • passcredits_conservedlargest gap between credits in and credits accounted for: 1.1e-13
  • passscores_in_boundsscores range 0.000 to 20.000
  • passno_nans0 missing values in the trajectory and objectives
  • passprobe_replay_reproducesthe recorded moves played back reproduce the simulation to within 0.0e+00 points (10 simulations)
  • passledger_balancesthe edge ledger sums to the propagated change to within 9.9e-07 points
  • passmove_without_shocklargest one-year move in a group with no shock landing: 1.13 points; 0% of simulations have one above 3
  • warntier_jumplargest gain in one domain within five years: 5 tiers (30 simulations above 2)
  • passall_tier1_from_outside_top10starting rank 44; 0 simulations reach Tier 1 in all nine domains
  • passsaturation_high0% of simulations end with a group at 20 that did not start there (median 0 groups)
  • warnsaturation_low100% of simulations end with a group at 0 that did not start there (median 1 groups)
  • passspend_concentrationmedian concentration of spending across groups (HHI) 0.072; most funded group hard.strategic_infrastructure.energy_infrastructure
  • passsame_actionthe most repeated move (group and mode) appears in a median 60% of rounds

Settings and versions

Experiment cycle-002.e4-chl. Every simulation records the model, graph and parameter versions, the scenario, the method and its seed, so it can be reproduced exactly.

Nation
Chile (CHL)
Position
A reconstructed 1996 position, aligned to the Index's scale
Method
Scripted. Actions fixed in advance by the experiment: for a backcast, the nation's historical pathway.
Scenario
Scripted events: Global funding seizure in year 2, Global funding seizure in year 12, Core disaster in year 14, Trade bloc rupture in year 22, Legitimacy rupture in year 23, Severe pandemic in year 24
Objective
Capability index, the primary objective the experiment is judged on; every other objective is reported beside it
Horizon
30 rounds, 1996 to 2026
Simulations
30 seeds, 1 to 30. Every method in the batch faces the same draws for the same seed.
Graph elasticities
Drawn for each simulation, uniformly within each edge’s bracket
Income
Base credits 298.4 a round, moving with the economic groups
Versions
Model 0.1.0, Capability Dependency Graph 0.2.0, parameters 0.1.0
Batch
Backcast 1996-2026 (cycle-002), cycle 2 of the improvement loop
Runtime
4.3 seconds in all; 1101 microseconds a round
Not a forecast
Every figure is a distribution over the simulations of a structural model, reported to compare methods and test the model. None is a prediction of what a nation will do or become.
Structural parameters
Costs, decay, vulnerability and credits are structural seed values with low or medium confidence, set by domain with single-group exceptions. Five groups have no defensible value in a single-nation model and are flagged in the parameter tables.
Other nations are frozen
One nation is simulated at a time. Every other nation stays at its 2026 rating, so rank and tiers are measured against a still field; where the simulated nation rises past others their own tiers are not re-sorted.
Starting depth and mode are defaults
The position is the National Capability Index ratings. How institutionalised each capability is, and how much was built, bought or partnered, have no data behind them yet and start from structural defaults.
Credits are calibrated, not measured
Each nation’s income is set so that its position is affordable with headroom that rises with its fiscal capacity. It is not yet fiscal capacity as a share of GDP.