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

José Peres-Cajías

No 169, Working Papers from European Historical Economics Society (EHES)

Abstract: This paper 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-19th century. This changing pattern is firstly explained by the availability of natural resources 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.

Keywords: Natural Resources; Regional convergence; Regional inequality; Landlockness; Bolivia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: N16 N56 N96 R12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 31 pages
Date: 2019-10
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-env, nep-his and nep-ure
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https://www.ehes.org/wp/EHES_169.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
Chapter: From West to East: Bolivian Regional GDPs since the 1950s. A Story of Natural Resources and Infrastructure (2020)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hes:wpaper:0169

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