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Starting with a comparative study of the economic policies of the Argentine (1976-1983) and Chilean dictatorships (1973-1990), this article challenges the existence of an ‘economic model’ of national security regimes. It focuses on the influence of theoretical and ideological approaches imported from the United States, especially concerning inflation. Some aspects show convergences between the two experiences, such as regressive social effects or conflicts in the implementation of the economic policies between civil and military economists, on one hand, and the military, on the other. Other aspects show deep divergences. The ‘coherence’ of the Chilean economic policy thus contrasts with the hybrid character of the Argentine experience.