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On the Viability of Small Countries

Uruguay and New Zealand Compared

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

John Kirby*
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand

Extract

The argument advanced by Bordaberry … by the United States and Brazilian embassies, and by the cattle and meat interests, is that Uruguay does not have a viable independent economy. It is smaller, on most terms of reference, than the southernmost state of Brazil–Rio Grande do Sul–and would, they say, be far better off if its economy were “rationalized” and integrated with the more “modern” large-scale Brazilian economy.

Latin America, Vol. VIII, No. 31, August 3 ,1973

Leaving aside the obvious self-interest of the various proponents (although one is tempted to speculate whether President Bordaberry argues on behalf of his country or his own ranching interests), their conclusion follows logically on much of the analysis which has focused on the causes of Uruguay's stagnation. Since the mid-1950s, the growth of the economy has barely kept pace with the small population increase of 1.2 percent per annum.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © University of Miami 1975

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References

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