Transnational Companies and Banana Exports From Ecuador, 1948-1972: An Interpretation

• Authors : Maldonado, C.L.


• Document type : Journal article


• Year of publication : 1982


• Journal title : North-South Canadian Journal of Latin American Studies


• Volume (number) : 7 (14)




• Pages : 3-42


• Peer-reviewed : Yes


• ISSN : 0384-1367


• Language(s) : English


• Abstract : We propose alternative hypotheses for explaining the expansion and crisis of Ecuadorian banana exports. The focus will be on the exogenous variables which determine the scope and limits of the country's exports. Internal factors will be dealt with comprehensively in a longer work.  The point of departure for the analysis will be the examination of the oligopolistic structure of the international banana market and its conditions of stability and transformation. Following a brief analysis of the behaviour of Ecuador's foreign trade from 1948 to 1972, the second part of this essay summarizes the changes in the world supply and demand for bananas during the same period. The empirical inconsistencies of the traditional explanations concerning Ecuador's boom and crisis will be demonstrated. The third part analyses the international market structure of the banana branch to explain the objective reasons (arising from the productive process) that induce the oligopolistic character of the world banana market. Finally, the fourth part provides an interpretation of the structural determinants that explain the expansion and decline of Ecuadorian banana exports.


• Keywords : MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS; HISTORY; ECUADOR; EXPORT TRADE


• Open access : No


• Document on publisher's site : View article on publisher's site


• Musalit document ID : IN200309

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