Latin American economies were in a period of transition and crisis during the majority of the 20th century. Many nations pursued economic projects and new policies to boost their economies. Extractivism emerged in Brazil, as the government experimented with babassu, a type of palm, to serve as an alternative fuel source. Economic experiments were also applied to deflation efforts and economic stabilization programs around the time of military coups in Argentina and Chile. In this research project, I explore the intersection between economic conditions and political instability, along with how its effects trickle down to the working class and how the government approaches policymaking in its wake. I also analyze how the press portrayed such economic policies. I found that in these three nations, poor economic conditions were exacerbated by political instability and policymaking experiments in the 20th century. As a result, mobilizations by the working class created divides within the population—this social dynamic is seen across all three nations as well.