The consensus was subsequently widely interpreted by critics as the essence of a neoliberal development policy package (Williamson 1997). Development policy came to consist in withdrawing state direction and even government intervention in development in favor of the disciplining of economies by market competition and self-interested individuals “efficiently” choosing between alternatives in the allocation of productive resources. In the external arena, neoliberalism entailed the devaluation of currencies (to make exports cheaper), convertible monetary systems (free conversions of currencies into dollars), and the removal of state restrictions on commodity and capital movements into and out of countries— joining economies together through unrestricted globalization. Internally markets were to be deregulated (including deunionizing) while price sub- sidies on food were reduced and then eliminated. Government spending was reduced and taxes lowered, especially on rich people, so that incomes flowed into private investment, stimulating growth (Brohman 1996b).