Industrialization in Argentina Since 1870

Abstract

Abstract This chapter offers an overview of the evolution of the manufacturing industry in Argentina, from its beginnings in the 19th century to the present day. Three major historical periods are identified based on Argentine economic and political developments in a global context and discussed using three perspectives: the ideas and debates regarding the industrialization process, their ‘materialization’ through government institutions and policies, and the resulting evolution of the manufacturing sector itself. Taken together, the Argentine case demonstrates the complexity of domestic and international factors shaping industrial policy and the impact that ideas regarding industrial development and industrial policy can have on the dynamics of different industries within a country, often in ways unanticipated by policymakers.