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From West to East: Bolivian Regional GDPs since the 1950s. A Story of Natural Resources and Infrastructure

In: Time and Space

Author

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  • José A. Peres-Cajías

    (Universitat de Barcelona)

Abstract

This chapter offers a general assessment of the economic activity in Bolivian regions thanks to an estimation, for the first time, of regional GDPs in Bolivia from 1950 onwards. The new quantitative evidence shows the economic upsurge and consolidation of new regions beyond the traditional economic zones, which were located to the west of the country since colonial times. This process is in stark contrast with most Latin American experiences, where economic activity has tended to be concentrated continuously in the same regions since the mid-nineteenth century. This changing pattern is first explained by the availability of natural resource endowments. However, given the landlocked nature of the country, the vibrant set of ecological regions, and the consequent relevance of transports costs, it is argued that natural resources may act as potent engines of regional economic growth only when a minimum network of public infrastructure is available.

Suggested Citation

  • José A. Peres-Cajías, 2020. "From West to East: Bolivian Regional GDPs since the 1950s. A Story of Natural Resources and Infrastructure," Palgrave Studies in Economic History, in: Daniel A. Tirado-Fabregat & Marc Badia-Miró & Henry Willebald (ed.), Time and Space, chapter 0, pages 97-129, Palgrave Macmillan.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palscp:978-3-030-47553-6_5
    DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-47553-6_5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Natural resources; Regional convergence; Regional inequality; Landlockness; Bolivia;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • N16 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - Latin America; Caribbean
    • N56 - Economic History - - Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment and Extractive Industries - - - Latin America; Caribbean
    • N96 - Economic History - - Regional and Urban History - - - Latin America; Caribbean
    • R12 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Size and Spatial Distributions of Regional Economic Activity; Interregional Trade (economic geography)

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