Topic > The Rise and Fall of the Argentine Economy

When studying Argentina, you can see that the country's economy boomed between 1880 and 1920 through its main exports, agriculture and breeding. The first major drop in revenue occurred immediately after this historical period; this drop was as much as 50%.1 There must be an explanation for this sudden downgrading of profits. So far one can only blame the Argentines, as global traders, for a monetary loss, but perhaps there are more factors behind the collapse. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayTrade in Argentina was dominated primarily by trade with international partners, with “Britain [as] the main source, followed by France and Germany. ”2 Later the United States also became a partner. On a large scale, Latin America as a whole has succeeded through international trade; this, unfortunately, also led to its inevitable economic collapse. Argentina was no exception; this can be seen as true through the statistics in the previous paragraph. Such dependence can be dangerous. This essay will focus on a very popular export in Argentina at the time: wool. Even better known is their export of beef and beef; the relationship between the two will be discussed. It is possible that one major export led to the failure of another. Furthermore, this failure could lead to the catastrophe of a large union or partnership, or even larger, of an entire economy. The wool trade in 1916 was at a remarkable peak, so high that “…quotations [were] higher than the abnormally high prices of the [previous] year…” This was mainly due to the United Kingdom and its trading tactics which they brought great profits to Argentine farmers.3 Argentina is completely dependent on Britain to continue its policies that bring them great wealth, a dependence that certainly should not be relied upon. This “…overwhelming dependence on food exports has made the nation's economy vulnerable to fluctuations in world prices…”4 Indeed, world prices were fluctuating, and in some places trade had reached a standstill. This hiatus was the result of the availability of low-quality wool varieties; this is especially disastrous as England satisfies the demands of allied countries in Europe for varieties that they themselves cannot produce.5 This led to low selling prices in a new season of wool trading. Countries like the United States would be responsible for this crisis. They would send buyers directly to Buenos Aires and purchase unshorn wool; this in turn put a squeeze on the market, negatively affecting Argentina.6 Regardless of how advantageous the world market might be, complete dependence on it could lead to dire circumstances. Over time, beef and cattle become more popular in global trade. In 1895 it was reported that “preparations have been made for much larger shipments”7 of cattle, sheep, cattle and mutton in the future. This means greater attention towards this sector and away from others; there would, therefore, be more determination to fatten and improve the quality of meat products than, for example, to ensure the export of high-quality wool. Economists predicted from the beginning that cattle and beef exports from Argentina to major partners such as the United Kingdom would increase in the near future.8 An 1897 newsletter from Argentine Minister Buchanan to the United States Department of State.