The Effects of Exchange Rates and Commercial Policy on Agricultural Incentives in Colombia, 1953-1978

Jorge García García

gen 1981 · Research report (International Food Policy Research Institute) Libro 24 · Intl Food Policy Res Inst

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Extract: Since the 1930s Colombia's economic policy has been directed to reaching three goals; to maintain self-sufficiency in food, to substitute domestically produced manufactured goods for imports, and in the 1970s to correct an ailing balance of payments by promoting exports. This paper describes Colombia's chosen path of import substitution which reflects that of so many Third World countries. It traces the effect on agriculture of tariffs, severe import restrictions or prohibitions, an overvalued national currency (peso), and export subsidies. The time span of the report is divided into two periods, 1953-67, when import substitution was the primary aim of foreign trade policy, and 1967-78, when exports were encouraged to aid the trade balance.