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Ecuador Economy

By Jason Murphy
December 4, 2007

The Ecuador economy is the subject of much debate at this Andean nation’s constitutional assembly.  For good reason, the strength of a nation’s economy results in the happiness of its people.  Economic data can measure output in dollar terms, but it takes an insider’s viewpoint to measure happiness.

The Ecuador Economy is sustained by production of approximately 500,000 barrels of oil per day, a growing tourism industry, inflows of capital sent by Ecuadorians abroad, and the export of agricultural products such as bananas, coffee, fish, and sugarcane.  Although theEcuador Economy Ecuador economy is not booming, growth is sustained at approximately 3.0% of GDP per year.

Daily Life in Ecuador

Ecuador’s growing consumer culture and middle class can be seen in daily life.  New malls across the country are packed.  Credit, although expensive, is available in the form of credit cards, auto loans, and mortgages.  Construction projects are booming in cities across the country.  This development is coming from Ecuador’s growing middle class.
 
Ecuador has an unemployment rate of approximately 10%.  Although the economy is expanding, GDP growth comes primarily from government spending.  The labor market is extremely competitive and even skilled workers experience difficulty finding good employment.  Unskilled workers find employment on farms or as owners of small neighborhood stores.  The poor labor market has resulted in a disgruntled working class.

U.S. Dollar in Ecuador

The currency of Ecuador is the United States dollar.  After a financial crisis in 1999, the Ecuadorian government adopted the dollar.  While the dollar has helped Ecuador to maintain moderate inflation, economic growth is limited as the government lacks monetary policy controls necessary to maintain competitiveness in the marketplace.
 
Ecuadorians are happy that inflation is under control.  The trade-off is that locally produced goods are more expensive than they might be with an Ecuadorian (or regional) currency.  A goal of President Rafael Correa is to institute a regional currency for the Andean region. As an economist with a Ph. D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Dr. Correa is Ecuador’s best chance to implement such ambitious changes.

Ecuador Compared to the United States (2006)

Median Age
    Ecuador      23.9 years
    U.S.A.        36.6 years

GDP (PPP)
    Ecuador     $61.52 Billion
    U.S.A        $13.06 Trillion
Related Keywords



GDP Growth Rate    Ecuador President Rafeal Correa
    Ecuador      4.1%
    U.S.A.        2.9%

Inflation
    Ecuador      3.3%
    U.S.A.        3.2%

Public Debt
    Ecuador      33% of GDP
    U.S.A.        64.7 % of GDP

Trade Deficit
    Ecuador    -0.8%
    USA         -5.4%   


The record high price of oil is helping to control Ecuador’s trade deficit.  The trade deficit was approaching 6% before the recent surge in oil prices.  The government is spending more money on social programs as part of its plan to move the economy toward socialism.

What will change with Socialism?

Governments in Latin America have been unstable for a long time.  Socialism only means that the people of Ecuador may share a collective ownership of some means of production.  Specifically, this government wants more state participation in energy and mining.  More money from the country’s resources will stay in Ecuador to improve education, health care, and infrastructure.  This is good for anyone living in Ecuador.

The Changes of Rafael Correa

The people of Latin America are currently embracing free market principals in their daily life.  I hear very little talk of “Socialism” on the streets.  On the contrary, I see a prosperous free market and an active democracy.

Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa speaks of radical change and Socialism as a means of communicating with citizens that feel cheated by past administrations and multinational corporations.  The upcoming changes in Ecuador will support democracy and the Ecuador economy by reducing corruption and allocating national resources where they are needed most.




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Data taken from www.economist.com and CIA The World Factbook

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