Author Description
The petroleum boom in the 1970's led to an agricultural disaster in many developing nations, however the opposite proved true in Tabasco, Mexico. This book analyzes the remarkable agricultural growth that took place in Tabasco, Mexico during the height of the 1972-1980 petroleum boom there. It describes the elements that contributed to the agricultural boom and that countered the oil syndrome which in many other countries and regions around the world has crippled agricultural production. The political position of the agricultural sector, agricultural prices, demographic conditions and attributes of local agriculture and rural economy are all examined in a comprehensive analysis of cacao farming, Tabasco's principal and most labor intensive agricultural sector.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This work investigates how the state of Tabasco, Mexico, successfully avoided the negative economic impacts of the 'oil syndrome' to achieve significant agricultural growth during the 1970s petroleum boom. Sara J. Scherr, an expert in agricultural economics and policy, utilizes historical data and regional economic analysis to identify the specific factors that allowed the agricultural sector to thrive despite the inflationary pressures typically associated with rapid oil development. The text presents a framework for understanding how local political and demographic conditions can insulate rural economies from the volatility of extractive industries.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Analysis of the 1972-1980 petroleum boom in Tabasco
- Examination of cacao farming as a labor-intensive model
- Assessment of agricultural pricing and rural economic policy
- Comparative study of regional development versus national trends
Scope Limits
- The study is geographically restricted to the state of Tabasco
- The analysis focuses primarily on the 1970s timeframe
- It does not provide a global forecast for modern oil-producing regions
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Experts recognize this text as a foundational case study in development economics for its counter-intuitive findings regarding the 'Dutch disease' or oil syndrome. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the specific focus on regional agricultural policy as a model for future research.
Page Count:
321
Publication Date:
1985-01-01
Publisher:
Praeger
ISBN-10:
0030046173
ISBN-13:
9780030046179
Economics
Energy Production & Extraction
Engineering
Rural Economy
Petroleum Industry
American Studies