Shortages in Venezuela have been prevalent following the enactment of price controls and other policies during the economic policy of the Hugo Chávez government.[4][5] Under the economic policy of the Nicolás Maduro government, greater shortages occurred due to the Venezuelan government's policy of withholding United States dollars from importers with price controls.[6] The severity of the shortages has exacerbated the Bolivarian diaspora, the largest recorded refugee crisis in the Americas.[7][8][9]