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The Argentina Paradox: Microexplanations and Macropuzzles

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  • Alan M. Taylor

Abstract

The economic history of Argentina presents one of the most dramatic examples of divergence in the modern era. What happened and why? This paper reviews the wide range of competing explanations in the literature and argues that, setting aside deeper social and political determinants, the various economic mechanisms in play defy the idea of a monocausal explanation.

Suggested Citation

  • Alan M. Taylor, 2014. "The Argentina Paradox: Microexplanations and Macropuzzles," NBER Working Papers 19924, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:19924
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    Cited by:

    1. Drechsel, Thomas & Tenreyro, Silvana, 2018. "Commodity booms and busts in emerging economies," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 200-218.
    2. Sébastien CARRERE & Matthieu CLEMENT & François COMBARNOUS & Gabriel KESSLER & Eric ROUGIER & Ariel WILKIS, 2022. "The middle class in Argentina: dynamics, characteristics and implications for public policies," Working Paper 83de5468-cd86-4702-a4a8-6, Agence française de développement.
    3. Nauro F. Campos & Menelaos G. Karanasos & Bin Tan, 2016. "From Riches to Rags, and Back? Institutional Change, Financial Development and Economic Growth in Argentina since 1890," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 52(2), pages 206-223, February.
    4. Campos, Luciano & Casas, Agustín, 2020. "Populism and income redistribution," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).
    5. Nikas, A. & Koasidis, K. & Köberle, A.C. & Kourtesi, G. & Doukas, H., 2022. "A comparative study of biodiesel in Brazil and Argentina: An integrated systems of innovation perspective," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    6. Droller, Federico & Fiszbein, Martin, 2021. "Staple Products, Linkages, and Development: Evidence from Argentina," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 81(3), pages 723-762, September.
    7. Dabús, Carlos & Tohmé, Fernando & Caraballo, M. Ángeles, 2016. "A middle income trap in a small open economy: Modeling the Argentinean case," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 436-444.
    8. Nauro F. Campos & Menelaos G. Karanasos & Michail Karoglou & Panagiotis Koutroumpis & Constantin Zopounidis & Apostolos Christopoulos, 2022. "Apocalypse now, apocalypse when? Economic growth and structural breaks in Argentina (1886–2003)," Economics of Transition and Institutional Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(1), pages 3-32, January.
    9. Catelén, Ana Laura, 2020. "Growth constraints and external vulnerability in Argentina," Nülan. Deposited Documents 3471, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Sociales, Centro de Documentación.
    10. Alfredo M. Leone & Jorge I. Canales Kriljenko & Rodolfo Maino, 2023. "The Long and Widening Gap: Analyzing Structural Breaks in Argentina’s Economic Decline," International Advances in Economic Research, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 29(4), pages 243-259, November.
    11. Ricardo F. Crespo, 2022. "Economics and National Cultures," Working Papers 187, Red Nacional de Investigadores en Economía (RedNIE).
    12. Emilio Ocampo, 2015. "Commodity Price Booms and Populist Cycles. An Explanation of Argentina’s Decline in the 20th Century," CEMA Working Papers: Serie Documentos de Trabajo. 562, Universidad del CEMA.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • F43 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Economic Growth of Open Economies
    • N16 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - Latin America; Caribbean
    • O11 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O54 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Latin America; Caribbean
    • O57 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Comparative Studies of Countries
    • P52 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Comparative Economic Systems - - - Comparative Studies of Particular Economies

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