Research Article
BibTex RIS Cite

The Argentine Economy and History of Crises: Structural Problems and Cyclical Breaks

Year 2025, Volume: 5 Issue: 3, 242 - 253, 30.12.2025

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the historical course and crisis cycles of the Argentine economy from the 1880s to the present day. Argentina's economic success with its open growth model during the period 1880–1930, known as the "Golden Age", evolved into a cycle of instability shaped by structural vulnerabilities, external debt crises, hyperinflation, political uncertainties, and institutional weaknesses in the following decades.
The study was developed within the framework of a historical descriptive research method. The economic models applied in different periods import substitution based industrialization, neoliberal reforms, and state interventionism were comparatively examined on the basis of macroeconomic indicators, external debt data, and social variables.
Data sources include publications from the IMF, the World Bank, and academic literature, while the findings are supported by graphs and tables. The results reveal that although the policies implemented in Argentina provided short-term recoveries, they failed to achieve sustainable development due to the absence of institutional reforms and persistent political instability. In this respect, the Argentine example offers important structural lessons for developing economies.

References

  • Basualdo, E. (2006). Estudios de historia económica argentina: Desde mediados del siglo XX a la actualidad. FLACSO.
  • Calvo, G. A., & Végh, C. A. (1999). Inflation stabilization and BOP crises in developing countries. In J. B. Taylor & M. Woodford (Eds.), Handbook of macroeconomics (Vol. 1, pp. 1531–1614). Elsevier.
  • Cavallo, D., & Fernández, R. (2020). Argentina’s IMF agreement: Origins and collapse. Latin American Economic Review, 29(1), 1–26.
  • Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe. (2013). Estadísticas sociales y económicas de América Latina. CEPAL.
  • Di Tella, G., & Zymelman, M. (1967). Los cambios en la estructura de la industria argentina. Instituto Torcuato Di Tella.
  • Dornbusch, R., & Edwards, S. (1991). The macroeconomics of populism in Latin America. University of Chicago Press.
  • Etchemendy, S., & Collier, R. B. (2011). Down but not out: Union resurgence and segmented neoliberalism in Argentina. Politics & Society, 35(3), 363–401. https://doi.org/10.1177/0032329207304318
  • Frenkel, R., & Rapetti, M. (2012). Exchange rate regimes in the major Latin American countries since the 1950s: Lessons from history. Center for Economic and Policy Research.
  • Gerchunoff, P., & Llach, L. (2011). El ciclo de la ilusión y el desencanto: Un siglo de políticas económicas argentinas. Ariel.
  • Hornbeck, J. F. (2019). Argentina’s economic crisis and IMF agreement. Congressional Research Service
  • International Monetary Fund. (2018). Argentina: Request for stand-by arrangement (Country Report No. 18/297). IMF.
  • International Monetary Fund. (2022). Argentina: Staff report for the 2022 Article IV consultation and request for an extended arrangement. IMF.
  • Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos. (2003). Indicadores macroeconómicos de la República Argentina (1990–2001). INDEC.
  • Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos. (2012). Indicadores de condiciones de vida 2003–2011. INDEC.
  • Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos. (2024). Indicadores macroeconómicos y sociales de la República Argentina (2020–2023). INDEC.
  • Kiguel, M. A., & Liviatan, N. (1995). Stopping three big inflations: Argentina, Brazil, and Peru. In T. J. Courchene & A. L. Hillman (Eds.), Inflation stabilization: The experience of Israel, Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, and Mexico (pp. 69–98). MIT Press.
  • Levitsky, S., & Murillo, M. V. (2008). Argentina: From Kirchner to Kirchner. Journal of Democracy, 19(2), 16–30.
  • Lo Vuolo, R. (2004). La economía argentina y el FMI: Historia de un desencuentro. CIEPP.
  • Machinea, J. L. (1996). The convertibility plan and the Argentine economy: A critical assessment. Centro de Estudios Macroeconómicos de Argentina (CEMA).
  • Maddison, A. (2001). The world economy: A millennial perspective. OECD Publishing.
  • Maddison Project Database. (2020). Historical statistics of the world economy: GDP per capita and trade data (1820–2018).
  • Marichal, C. (1989). A century of debt crises in Latin America: From independence to the Great Depression, 1820–1930. Princeton University Press.
  • Perry, G., & Servén, L. (2003). The anatomy of a multiple crisis: Why was Argentina special and what can we learn from it? World Bank Policy Research Working Paper Series, No. 3081.
  • Rock, D. (1987). Argentina, 1516–1987: From Spanish colonization to Alfonsín. University of California Press.
  • Stiglitz, J. E. (2002). Globalization and its discontents. W. W. Norton & Company.
  • Stiglitz, J. E., & Guzmán, M. (2016). Argentina’s uncertain prospects. Project Syndicate. https://www.project-syndicate.org
  • Taylor, A. M. (1998). On the costs of inward-looking development: Price distortions, growth and divergence in Latin America. The Journal of Economic History, 58(1), 1–28.
  • The Economist. (2023, November). Javier Milei’s dolarización dream and Argentina’s economic gamble. https://www.economist.com
  • Weisbrot, M., Ray, R., & Montecino, J. A. (2009). The Argentine success story and its implications. Center for Economic and Policy Research.
  • World Bank. (2020). Argentina overview. The World Bank Group. https://www.worldbank.org
  • Wylde, C. (2011). State, society and markets in Argentina: The political economy of neoliberalism. European Review of Latin American and Caribbean Studies, 91, 85–98.

Arjantin Ekonomisi ve Krizler Tarihi: Yapısal Sorunlar ve Döngüsel Kırılmalar

Year 2025, Volume: 5 Issue: 3, 242 - 253, 30.12.2025

Abstract

Bu çalışma, Arjantin ekonomisinin 1880’lerden günümüze kadar uzanan tarihsel seyrini ve kriz döngülerini analiz etmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Arjantin’in "Altın Çağ" olarak bilinen 1880–1930 döneminde dışa açık büyüme modeliyle gösterdiği ekonomik başarı, sonraki yıllarda yapısal kırılganlıklar, dış borç krizleri, hiperenflasyon, siyasal belirsizlikler ve kurumsal zayıflıklarla şekillenen bir istikrarsızlık döngüsüne evrilmiştir. Çalışma, tarihsel betimleyici araştırma yöntemi çerçevesinde şekillendirilmiş; çeşitli dönemlerde uygulanan ekonomik modeller (ithal ikamesine dayalı sanayileşme, neoliberal reformlar, devlet müdahaleciliği) makroekonomik göstergeler, dış borç verileri ve sosyal değişkenler temelinde karşılaştırmalı olarak incelenmiştir. Veri kaynakları arasında INDEC, IMF, Dünya Bankası ve akademik yayınlar yer almakta olup, elde edilen bulgular tablolarla desteklenmiştir. Sonuçlar, Arjantin’de uygulanan politikaların kısa vadeli toparlanmalar sağlasa da, kurumsal reform eksikliği ve siyasi istikrarsızlık nedeniyle sürdürülebilir kalkınma sağlayamadığını ortaya koymaktadır. Bu yönüyle Arjantin örneği, gelişmekte olan ekonomiler için önemli yapısal dersler sunmaktadır.

Thanks

İspanyolca çeviri desteği için Öğr. Gör. Dr. Duygu Babat ve Celal Ceyhan'a teşekkür ederiz.

References

  • Basualdo, E. (2006). Estudios de historia económica argentina: Desde mediados del siglo XX a la actualidad. FLACSO.
  • Calvo, G. A., & Végh, C. A. (1999). Inflation stabilization and BOP crises in developing countries. In J. B. Taylor & M. Woodford (Eds.), Handbook of macroeconomics (Vol. 1, pp. 1531–1614). Elsevier.
  • Cavallo, D., & Fernández, R. (2020). Argentina’s IMF agreement: Origins and collapse. Latin American Economic Review, 29(1), 1–26.
  • Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe. (2013). Estadísticas sociales y económicas de América Latina. CEPAL.
  • Di Tella, G., & Zymelman, M. (1967). Los cambios en la estructura de la industria argentina. Instituto Torcuato Di Tella.
  • Dornbusch, R., & Edwards, S. (1991). The macroeconomics of populism in Latin America. University of Chicago Press.
  • Etchemendy, S., & Collier, R. B. (2011). Down but not out: Union resurgence and segmented neoliberalism in Argentina. Politics & Society, 35(3), 363–401. https://doi.org/10.1177/0032329207304318
  • Frenkel, R., & Rapetti, M. (2012). Exchange rate regimes in the major Latin American countries since the 1950s: Lessons from history. Center for Economic and Policy Research.
  • Gerchunoff, P., & Llach, L. (2011). El ciclo de la ilusión y el desencanto: Un siglo de políticas económicas argentinas. Ariel.
  • Hornbeck, J. F. (2019). Argentina’s economic crisis and IMF agreement. Congressional Research Service
  • International Monetary Fund. (2018). Argentina: Request for stand-by arrangement (Country Report No. 18/297). IMF.
  • International Monetary Fund. (2022). Argentina: Staff report for the 2022 Article IV consultation and request for an extended arrangement. IMF.
  • Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos. (2003). Indicadores macroeconómicos de la República Argentina (1990–2001). INDEC.
  • Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos. (2012). Indicadores de condiciones de vida 2003–2011. INDEC.
  • Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos. (2024). Indicadores macroeconómicos y sociales de la República Argentina (2020–2023). INDEC.
  • Kiguel, M. A., & Liviatan, N. (1995). Stopping three big inflations: Argentina, Brazil, and Peru. In T. J. Courchene & A. L. Hillman (Eds.), Inflation stabilization: The experience of Israel, Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, and Mexico (pp. 69–98). MIT Press.
  • Levitsky, S., & Murillo, M. V. (2008). Argentina: From Kirchner to Kirchner. Journal of Democracy, 19(2), 16–30.
  • Lo Vuolo, R. (2004). La economía argentina y el FMI: Historia de un desencuentro. CIEPP.
  • Machinea, J. L. (1996). The convertibility plan and the Argentine economy: A critical assessment. Centro de Estudios Macroeconómicos de Argentina (CEMA).
  • Maddison, A. (2001). The world economy: A millennial perspective. OECD Publishing.
  • Maddison Project Database. (2020). Historical statistics of the world economy: GDP per capita and trade data (1820–2018).
  • Marichal, C. (1989). A century of debt crises in Latin America: From independence to the Great Depression, 1820–1930. Princeton University Press.
  • Perry, G., & Servén, L. (2003). The anatomy of a multiple crisis: Why was Argentina special and what can we learn from it? World Bank Policy Research Working Paper Series, No. 3081.
  • Rock, D. (1987). Argentina, 1516–1987: From Spanish colonization to Alfonsín. University of California Press.
  • Stiglitz, J. E. (2002). Globalization and its discontents. W. W. Norton & Company.
  • Stiglitz, J. E., & Guzmán, M. (2016). Argentina’s uncertain prospects. Project Syndicate. https://www.project-syndicate.org
  • Taylor, A. M. (1998). On the costs of inward-looking development: Price distortions, growth and divergence in Latin America. The Journal of Economic History, 58(1), 1–28.
  • The Economist. (2023, November). Javier Milei’s dolarización dream and Argentina’s economic gamble. https://www.economist.com
  • Weisbrot, M., Ray, R., & Montecino, J. A. (2009). The Argentine success story and its implications. Center for Economic and Policy Research.
  • World Bank. (2020). Argentina overview. The World Bank Group. https://www.worldbank.org
  • Wylde, C. (2011). State, society and markets in Argentina: The political economy of neoliberalism. European Review of Latin American and Caribbean Studies, 91, 85–98.
There are 31 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language Turkish
Subjects Development Economics - Macro, History of Accounting
Journal Section Research Article
Authors

Ali Birvural 0000-0001-8373-7486

Submission Date July 27, 2025
Acceptance Date December 25, 2025
Publication Date December 30, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 5 Issue: 3

Cite

APA Birvural, A. (2025). Arjantin Ekonomisi ve Krizler Tarihi: Yapısal Sorunlar ve Döngüsel Kırılmalar. Uluslararası İşletme Bilimi Ve Uygulamaları Dergisi, 5(3), 242-253.