A New Economic History of Argentina

Argentine economic history has long presented a puzzle: how could a country that was once one of the world's richest, now fare so poorly? What is the economic story behind such long-run divergence? And how does economic reality reflect deeper social, institutional and political forces? Not since the publication of Carlos Díaz Alejandro's Essays on the Economic History of the Argentine Republic in 1970 has there been another standard reference for those seeking a more quantitative understanding of Argentina's development. In the intervening years research in the 'new economic history' has crafted a more sophisticated interpretation of the past. This 2004 book provides the reader access to research, focusing on long-run economic change, major developments in policy making, and important shifts in institutions and ideas. The lessons from Argentina's turbulent economic past represent the essential context for the issues that confront scholars, students, and policy-makers.

1. Introduction Gerardo della Paolera and Alan M. Taylor; 2. Between independence and the golden age: the early Argentine economy Ricardo D. Salvatore and Carlos Newland; 3. Passing the buck: monetary and fiscal policies Gerardo della Paolera, Maria Alejandra Irigoin and Carlos G. Bózzoli; 4. Economic cycles Adolfo Sturzenegger and Ramiro Moya; 5. The labor market Sebastián Galiani and Pablo Gerchunoff; 6. Capital accumulation Alan M. Taylor; 7. International trade and commercial policy Julio Berlinski; 8. Agriculture Yair Mundlak and Marcelo Regúnaga; 9. Industry María Inés Barbero and Fernando Rocchi; 10. Banking and finance, 1900–35 Leonard I. Nakamura and Carlos E. J. M. Zarazaga; 11. Business, government and law Sergio Berensztein and Horacio Spector; 12. Epilogue: the Argentine puzzle Gerardo della Paolera and Ezequiel Gallo; 13. Statistical appendix Gerardo della Paolera, Alan M. Taylor and Carlos G. Bózzoli.

A 2004 reference for those seeking a more quantitative understanding of Argentina's development. Since the 1970s, research in the 'new economic history' has crafted a more sophisticated interpretation of the past, and this book provides the scholar, student and policy-maker access to that material.