Argentina is experiencing a period of sweeping change, as President Javier Milei’s administration moves forward with bold reforms that are sending shockwaves through the country’s social, economic, and educational institutions. From the bustling streets of Buenos Aires to the hallowed halls of universities, the effects are being felt far and wide—sometimes in unexpected ways.
One of the most headline-grabbing developments has been the dramatic transformation of the rental housing market in Buenos Aires, Argentina’s capital and largest city. According to Libre Mercado, one of the first major policies enacted by President Milei was the repeal of the 2020 Rental Law, a piece of legislation put in place during the previous administration of Alberto Fernández. By rolling back these regulations, Milei’s government allowed landlords and tenants to negotiate their own contracts freely, removing government-imposed restrictions that had governed rental agreements for years.
The impact of this deregulation was immediate and profound. As reported by the Instituto de Estadística y Censos de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires (IDECBA), the supply of rental apartments in Buenos Aires soared by 160% between the last quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024. But the momentum didn’t stop there. Since Milei took office, the total increase in available rental units has reached a staggering 300% by August 2025. That’s a remarkable shift for a city of over 3 million people, where the cost of living has traditionally been the highest in the country.
The surge in supply brought with it a corresponding drop in rental prices. IDECBA data shows that, measured against the Buenos Aires Consumer Price Index, rents have fallen by approximately 67% from the end of 2023 to the second quarter of 2025. When looking at the average prices for apartments with one, two, or three rooms, the decline is even more dramatic—a 75% decrease over the same period. As Libre Mercado notes, these outcomes are being heralded by supporters of deregulation as proof that reducing government intervention can expand supply and lower costs for consumers. The logic is straightforward: less regulation means more properties enter the market, which in turn drives prices down.
This transformation has not gone unnoticed outside Argentina. Some commentators have even suggested that European leaders, such as Spain’s Pedro Sánchez, could learn from Milei’s approach to rental policy. The message is clear: when the government steps back, the market can deliver lower prices and greater choice for renters. Of course, not everyone agrees with this assessment, and debates about the broader social consequences of such rapid change continue to simmer.
While the rental market offers one lens on Argentina’s current upheaval, the country’s education and health sectors are also in the midst of significant turmoil—this time, with far more controversy. According to Buenos Aires Times, roughly two-thirds of Argentina’s national budget has historically been consumed by the trio of health, education, and welfare. Yet, as of mid-August 2025, President Milei’s government has yet to present its own national budget, leaving many to wonder how these critical sectors will fare under his administration.
Amidst this uncertainty, a scandal erupted over the integrity of the Examen Único, the nationwide exam for aspiring medical residents. The government responded by delegating responsibility for these exams to the provinces, echoing a strategy employed during the presidency of Carlos Menem in the 1990s. That earlier decentralization, aimed at easing fiscal pressure, often led to mixed results—sometimes worsening disparities between regions and undermining national standards.
The immediate trigger for the scandal was a case involving a student from Ecuador, who used smart glasses loaded with artificial intelligence to cheat on the exam. The student achieved a score of 92 percent—an astonishing 30 percent higher than his actual level of knowledge. While cheating in exams is hardly a new phenomenon, the introduction of cutting-edge technology has raised the stakes and complicated efforts to ensure fairness.
The revelation sparked a wider debate about the role of foreign students in Argentina’s medical training system. Nearly 30 percent of candidates for medical residencies are from abroad, and the government is now considering charging fees for foreign students—a move that could have significant financial and social ramifications. Some argue that the influx of foreigners is a response to Argentina’s relatively open and affordable higher education system, which offers free admission to many. But critics worry that charging fees won’t fully address deeper issues, such as overcrowded universities and declining academic standards.
The Examen Único itself was introduced in 2011, largely at the urging of Patagonian and inland provinces that lacked sufficient university infrastructure to train and assess new doctors. Ironically, rather than expanding such rigorous exams to improve the overall quality of medical training, Argentina has instead seen a boom in the number of universities—creating a situation where faculties built for hundreds of students are now teaching thousands. The University of Buenos Aires, for example, now enrolls more than 350,000 students. With so many students per lecturer, maintaining high standards and preventing fraud becomes a herculean task.
Beyond the immediate scandal, there are broader worries about the health system itself. According to Buenos Aires Times, the meager earnings of medical professionals are contributing to a crisis in the sector. Salaries have been eroded by spiraling costs, making it harder to attract and retain qualified doctors. This, in turn, impacts the quality of training for new physicians, threatening the long-term sustainability of the health system—even as thousands of students graduate from university each year.
The government’s forceful response to the cheating scandal stands in stark contrast to what some see as the indifference of universities and the silence of professional associations and hospital chambers. Yet, as Buenos Aires Times points out, the roots of Argentina’s educational challenges run deep, with deficits in schooling and culture that long predate students’ entry into higher education. The scandal over medical exams has become a flashpoint for a much larger debate about meritocracy, standards, and the future of Argentine society.
All of this is unfolding against the backdrop of a complex political season. With midterm elections on the horizon and the government seeking enough seats to protect its legislative agenda, many structural reforms are on hold—waiting to see how the political winds will blow. As the saying goes, “cheats never prosper,” but in Argentina’s current climate, the path forward is anything but clear.
As Argentina stands at a crossroads, the choices made in the coming months will shape the country’s housing, health, and education systems for years to come. Whether the bold reforms of President Milei’s government will deliver lasting benefits—or simply spark new controversies—remains to be seen.
