More than 30,000 Argentine companies have closed in the last two and a half years
The article reports that over 30,000 companies in Argentina closed between December 2023 and May 2025, marking the largest decline in the first two and a half years of President Javier Milei's administration in recent decades. The data comes from Fundar's Monthly Business Monitor, which uses information from the Superintendencia de Riesgos del Trabajo (SRT). In May 2025, there were 481,724 registered businesses, down from 512,357 in November 2023. The decline has been sustained across 16 consecutive months, with 15 out of 18 economic sectors experiencing decreases in May. Key affected sectors include hospitality and gastronomy, manufacturing, and transportation and storage. While some sectors like administrative services and energy saw growth, most provinces experienced losses, with La Rioja, Catamarca, and Tierra del Fuego showing significant declines.
Natalia de la Sota, a national deputy representing Córdoba province, criticized President Javier Milei for his proposed removal of subsidies on gas tariffs under the Zona Fría program. She accused him of being "insensitive" toward the impact this policy would have on nearly 700,000 households in her province. The measure, which has been discussed by the national government, could significantly increase utility bills for low-income families already struggling with inflation and rising living costs. De la Sota emphasized that the elimination of these subsidies would deepen the economic hardship faced by middle-class and working families in Córdoba. She pointed out that the move is part of a broader set of policies she claims are systematically harmful to the interests of Cordobans. Her criticism extended to the national chief of staff, Diego Santilli, whom she accused of negotiating legislative support for the removal of the Zona Fría regime in exchange for other benefits for northern provinces. The controversy arose after images surfaced of Economy Minister Luis Caputo and Santilli meeting with governors from northern provinces. De la Sota interpreted this meeting as a backroom deal where northern governors pledged their votes to eliminate the Zona Fría subsidy for 3.2 million users of natural gas in exchange for greater electricity subsidies in warmer regions. The participating governors included Raúl Alejandro Jalil of Catamarca, Gustavo Sáenz of Salta, Leandro Sdero of Chaco, and Leandro César Zdero of Jujuy. Caputo later posted on social media that during the dialogue session with northern governors, he and Santilli had reached an agreement to redefine energy subsidies in warm and very warm zones, a long-standing demand from provincial governments. This announcement came amid growing concerns over the potential economic consequences of removing the Zona Fría subsidy, particularly in regions where many residents rely heavily on subsidized utilities. According to a report by the consulting firm Politikon Chaco, the number of active private employers nationwide declined by 6% since Milei took office, resulting in the disappearance of 30,385 firms. The data was derived from official figures provided by the Superintendence of Work Risks (SRT), comparing November 2023 with May 2026. The study defines "employers" as all individuals or legal entities declaring at least one worker under the work risks system, excluding public administration, foreign organizations, and domestic service. The decline in businesses has accelerated over time, with 27 consecutive months showing annual decreases in the number of employers. Since September 2025, the rate of decline has intensified, with the most significant drop recorded in May 2026, a 3.3% decrease equivalent to 16,422 lost companies. As of May 2026, there were 477,463 active private employers nationwide. Certain sectors have been hit harder than others. Construction saw the largest decline at 9.3%, losing 2,033 firms. Manufacturing followed closely with an 8.1% reduction, amounting to 4,020 fewer companies. Other aggregated activities dropped by 5.8%, while commerce fell by 5.6%. Agriculture experienced a 4.5% decline, losing 2,421 firms. At the provincial level, only Neuquén showed growth, increasing its number of employers by 1.7% due to the boom in the Vaca Muerta oil fields. All other provinces recorded declines, with some experiencing double-digit drops. Córdoba suffered a 9.3% decrease, losing 4,796 employers since November 2023. In absolute terms, Buenos Aires lost the most firms, 8,076, followed by Córdoba, the capital city (CABA), and Santa Fe. The report highlights that these losses are partly due to the concentration of businesses in certain regions. When considering just the past year, the national decline was 3.3%, with manufacturing again bearing the brunt at 5.5%. Commerce followed with a 4.4% drop. Córdoba’s loss of 2,664 employers represented the third-largest absolute decline in the country, behind Buenos Aires and ahead of CABA and Santa Fe. The situation reflects a broader economic challenge facing Córdoba, where industrial activity and consumer spending have both declined. Despite efforts to develop a distinct productive policy, the province continues to grapple with the effects of a national economic context that has failed to provide sufficient support.
3 reports
La NaciónIndependent🔒CenterFactual 95Objective 858/15/2026
The article reports that over 30,000 companies in Argentina closed between December 2023 and May 2025, marking the largest decline in the first two and a half years of President Javier Milei's administration in recent decades. The data comes from Fundar's Monthly Business Monitor, which uses information from the Superintendencia de Riesgos del Trabajo (SRT). In May 2025, there were 481,724 registered businesses, down from 512,357 in November 2023. The decline has been sustained across 16 consecutive months, with 15 out of 18 economic sectors experiencing decreases in May. Key affected sectors include hospitality and gastronomy, manufacturing, and transportation and storage. While some sectors like administrative services and energy saw growth, most provinces experienced losses, with La Rioja, Catamarca, and Tierra del Fuego showing significant declines.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual data on business closures without overtly criticizing or praising President Milei's policies. It provides balanced reporting by citing statistics from Fundar and SRT, highlighting both the overall trend of decline and exceptions where growth occurred. There is no clear倾向
Why factuality (95): The article provides specific data from Fundar’s Monitor Mensual de Empresas, citing the Superintendencia de Riesgos del Trabajo (SRT) as the source. It includes precise figures such as the closure of 30,633 companies since December 2023, the monthly decline of 0.49% in May, and the comparison to pr
Why objectivity (85): The article presents the information in a largely neutral manner, using descriptive language like 'deterioro es generalizado' but does not overtly favor any political stance. However, the phrase 'desde que asumió Javier Milei' may subtly imply a causal link between his presidency and the closures, w
Natalia de la Sota, diputada nacional por Córdoba, criticó duramente a Javier Milei, llamándolo 'insensible' por su propuesta de eliminar los descuentos en tarifas de gas bajo el régimen de Zona Fría. La medida, según De la Sota, afectaría a casi 700.000 hogares en la provincia, especialmente en un contexto económico complejo donde los ingresos de las familias trabajadoras están perdiendo poder adquisitivo. Ella sostuvo que esta acción profundizaría la crisis en sectores medios y trabajadores, y cuestionó las negociaciones del gobierno nacional para lograr apoyos legislativos. Además, De la Sota criticó una reunión entre funcionarios nacionales y gobernadores del norte, donde se discutió la eliminación del subsidio de zona fría a cambio de mayores subsidios a la electricidad en zonas cálidas.
Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the issue as a negative impact on working families and highlights criticism of Milei's policies as harmful to Cordoba. The language used ('insensible', 'golpe directo', 'perjudiciales') carries a left-leaning critique of the government's economic policies, emphasizing their harm.
Why factuality (85): The article presents specific claims about Natalia de la Sota criticizing Javier Milei over the removal of subsidies for gas under the Zona Fría regime. These claims are supported by statements attributed to her and contextualized within economic conditions. However, the article also includes unrela
Why objectivity (65): The article uses emotionally charged language such as 'insensible' and frames the policy change as a direct attack on working families, potentially biasing the reader’s perception. It also includes personal commentary from De la Sota without balancing it with opposing viewpoints or data from the gov
The article reports that since the start of Javier Milei's government, over 30,000 private-sector employer companies have disappeared nationwide, with Córdoba province experiencing a 9.3% decline. The data comes from an analysis by Politikon Chaco, using official figures from the Superintendencia de Riesgos del Trabajo. The report highlights a continuous decline in employer companies over 27 months, with accelerated losses since September 2025. Key sectors affected include construction (-9.3%), manufacturing (-8.1%), commerce (-5.6%), and agriculture (-4.5%). While Neuquén saw growth due to Vaca Muerta projects, other provinces like La Rioja (-19.1%) and Tierra del Fuego (-13.9%) experienced significant drops. Córdoba lost 4,796 firms, contributing to national trends. The article attributes these declines to broader economic challenges.
Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the decline in private-sector employers as a consequence of Milei's government policies, implying negative impacts on the economy and employment. It emphasizes the scale of the loss and connects it directly to the administration, suggesting a critical stance toward the government.
Why factuality (70): The article cites an external report from Politikon Chaco using official data from the Superintendencia de Riesgos del Trabajo (SRT) to claim that more than 30,000 employer companies have disappeared since Milei took office. However, the timeline mentioned (november 2023 to may 2026) seems implausib
Why objectivity (55): The article presents the data in a highly critical manner, emphasizing the negative impact of Milei’s policies on employment and specific sectors like construction and manufacturing. It uses terms like 'derrumbe' ('collapse') and 'golpeados' ('hit'), which convey strong negative sentiment. There is
How each side covered it
The same event, grouped by the political lean of the outlets covering it.
progressive
center
conservative
★
How each side covered it
Support independent, bias-aware news and unlock the social pulse, community voting, and every other Supporter feature.
AR
