Estado e desenvolvimento na Argentina pós-conversibilidade

Abstract

Utilizing the theoretical framework of Institutional economics and the Developmental State, Argentina’s post-convertibility economic development is evaluated. The Developmental State is defined as the one whose main goal is the structural modernization of an economy, promoting the latter’s specialization in high valueadded, knowledge and technology-intensive activities. Assuming that the Developmental State relies more heavily on interventions in institutional arrangements in the pursuit of its strategic goals, it is argued that the effectiveness of such intervention pattern is to a great extent conditioned by State’s institutional capabilities in dealing with other social actors involved in the developmental effort. After, Argentina’s state activism is investigated in historical perspective in order to understand its nature and main characteristics, as well as the way in which it influenced economic development and the building of institutional capabilities of the Argentine State over time. Finally, state activism during the post-convertibility era is analyzed, covering the years 2002-2014. It is concluded that the pattern of state intervention in this period was not of developmental nature, given that the institutional framework for it was very limited. Besides, other political objectives, especially social equality, overrode structural modernization. Additionally, it is noted that, in spite of relative improvements, the institutional capabilities of the Argentine State kept certain weaknesses inherited from earlier periods