Bolivia was once home to the world’s largest silver mine, San Luis Potosi, during the Spanish colonial period. It entered the twentieth century with a large underdeveloped indigenous and mestizo population and a small European elite who controlled the State.

Bolivia is essentially a producer of primary products for the international market based on the exploitation of deposits on it’s extensive land area. Growth over several decades has averaged about 4% a year which, given the rate of population growth, has led to a modest rise in living standards. There was a prolonged downturn in the 1980's coinciding with the Latin American debt crisis but with Brady Plan relief and other adjustments at the end of the decade this crisis passed.

Evo Morales has been President since 2005 and he introduced the MESCP (Modelo Economico Social Comunitario Productivo) which is essentially a Socialist program to integrate the indigenous and marginalised community into the economy. The economy has grown throughout this period but there are a number of issues that require attention if it is to continue to progress; exploitation of lithium deposits - this has barely commenced in Bolivia but is already advanced in Chile and Argentina, and, new markets for natural gas exports given that exports to Brazil and Argentina have peaked.

The recent ousting of Morales and the consequent political and diplomatic events don’t invalidate the main arguments in this study which is concerned with the long term underlying factors.

Contents

Introduction

The Modern Period

The Current Era

The Modern State

Economics from the Ground Up

Political Systems

Trade Theory

The EU as a Model of Integration

Industrialisation

Synopsis

Data                                   

            World GDP                                            2018

            World GDP PPP                                    2018

            GDP per capita ppp                            2018

            Exports   &  Imports                           2018

           Container Traffic                    2010 & 2018

            Oil/Liquids  Prod/Cons                       2018

            Migrant Remittances                         2018

            Tourism Statistics                               2017

            Tourism Americas                               2017              

Latin America         

Background

The US and Latin America

Economy

The EU and Latin America

Mercosur

World Exports                                      2000-2018

Bolivia                            

            Introduction

            Political History

            Economic Reforms

            MESCP

            Recent Economic History

            State Finances                                        

            Going Forward

            Charts & Chart Commentary

Sources

66 pages