Chilean truckers' strike shows state control systems can protect some industries, but not others.

During a 1972 national truckers' strike that cut industrial output, Chile's government tried to protect key sectors using a cybernetic coordination system. This system successfully shielded designated industries that were easier to manage, but failed to protect the sectors that needed help the most, like food and beverages.

This historical case study shows that even advanced coordination systems have limits. The attempt to centrally manage industrial output during a crisis revealed that state control can selectively protect certain industries, particularly those already owned by the state or with simple supply chains. However, it was less effective for complex sectors like food production, highlighting that centralized planning struggles when facing the greatest needs or the most intricate supply chains.