After independence in the 19th century Honduras emerged as a country with a ruling elite of European stock who controlled the economy and a large disenfranchised indigenous population. It’s international insertion in the 19th century was based on banana exports.

There was a Military Government for most of the period from 1932 to 1982 at which time a new constitution was approved. However in the 1980's Honduras was leaned upon to provide bases for the US backed Contra forces against the Sandanistas in Nicaragua. All of the wars in Central America were interconnected. The Sandinista Revolution in Nicaragua was seen as a model for the downtrodden throughout the Isthmus but was resisted by the US following a Cold War logic. Pressure on the Sandinistas by the US forced them to seek support from Cuba and the Soviet Union.

The Sandinistas then supported left wing guerrilla groups in neighbouring countries which were acquiescing in US policies. The US, in turn, supported right wing guerrillas to counter the left wing groups until the Cold War ended. The Contra war effectively ended when the Sandinistas were voted out of power in 1990 but the legacy of armed guerrilla groups continues to this day with the isthmus having some of the world’s highest homicide rates.

Honduras has typically grown in the 3-4% range per annum apart from a downturn in the 1980's coinciding with the Contra war. Economic policy is a mix of light industry, agriculture, Zonas Francas (free trade zones) and integration in the Central American Common Market. The trade deficit is covered by remittances from Hondurans working abroad. Honduras experienced a coup d’etat in 2009 to oust President Zelaya.

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 Production                                    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

Honduras                       

            Introduction

            20^th Century

            Economy

            Exports

            State Finances

            Central America Tables

            Charts & Chart Commentary

Sources

67 pages