As the Rescue of the Chilean Miners Shows, this South American Country is Superbly Managed and an Enticing Investment

The efficient, well-managed rescue of the 33 Chilean miners was an affecting spectacle for the world. It also should remind us that Chile is a well-run country, and that in an era when commodities are ever more important to the global economy, it is becoming an essential part of investors' portfolios. Earthquakes are terrifying and mining is a dangerous job anywhere, but you're much more likely to survive an earthquake or a mine disaster in some countries than in others. Indeed Chile's performance both in the earthquake and this mine disaster was of the highest quality probably only in Germany, Scandinavia and maybe Singapore could one reliably expect public rescue services to work so effectively. For investors, the Chilean earthquake and mine disaster experiences have an important lesson: Countries with really good management should be promoted sharply up investor league tables, for a number of reasons.