Agricultural expansion and modernization: The economy of Santa Fe during the second half of the nineteenth century

Abstract

This paper seeks to analyze the main factors that promoted the radical transformation experienced by the Santa Fe provincial economy during the second half of the nineteenth century. After a brief analysis of the evolution of its economy during late colonial and post-independence period, we evaluate in depth the different keys of the superb growth of the agricultural production and its impact on economic modernization. Different variables such as the expansion of the colonization process, the incorporation of technology and the infrastructure investments are all comparatively analyzed to better understand their role in the modernization process. Finally, we present new evidence on the modernization of monetary and credit instruments that became essentials during the economic expansion.