Buenos Aires, November 16 (teleSUR-RHC)-- Argentina's two presidential hopefuls -- progressive Daniel Scioli and neo-liberal Mauricio Macri –- squared off Sunday night in a key debate ahead of next week's runoff elections.

The debate was dominated by a fierce exchange over the economy. Scioli, supported by current President Cristina Kirchner, has advocated for a continuation of the economic policies of Fernandez, which include improved welfare and social investment.

Macri has called for Argentina to shift towards neo-liberalism.  He argued that his economic platform would boost job creation, particularly for young people.  “Our economic objective is an Argentina with no poverty … And our goal is to grow,” he said.

Scioli hit back by arguing Macri's ideas are a “danger for society.”  “Who will pay the costs of the economic adjustments which you are proposing?” he said, arguing neo-liberalism would hurt Argentina's poor.

He argued instead for greater government action to reduce consumer prices domestically, and internationally for a tough line against the International Monetary Fund and the so-called Vulture Funds.

“There is a triangle of progress: businesspeople, the workers and our government proposals and a triangle of regression: the vulture funds, the IMF, and your proposals,” he said.

On domestic development, Macri vowed to invest heavily in improving Argentina's transportation system, including by improving inter provincial highways.

“I want to connect the north of the country with the south, connecting the ports. And I want to give all of the Argentinians the opportunity of progress,” he said.

Scioli responded by accusing Macri of copying his policies.

“What did Macri do?  Copy and paste,” he said.  The leftist candidate continued by outlining an ambitious economic plan, including producing 2 million new jobs over the next decade, eliminating poverty and encouraging more international investment in Argentina.

Macri has long argued for reduced taxes and rolling back the government's social programs.  After discussing the economy, the two candidates moved to education and poverty.

“I am a defender of public education.  Now we need to continue by improving quality,” Scioli said, before going on the offensive by accusing Macri of failing to reduce infant mortality as mayor of Buenos Aires.

“Macri, how can you justify the increased rate of infant mortality in Buenos Aires?  You have not been able to defeat poverty,” he said.  “Infant mortality is the same it has always been,” Macri responded.

Official figures suggest infant mortality rates in the capital rose in 2013 – bucking a nationwide trend of falling infant mortality rates.

In the first round of voting in October, Scioli and Macri finished head to head, with 36.9 percent of the vote and 34.3 percent respectively.