Topic: Economics of Development
Country: Argentina
Delegate Name: Alexandria D’Antonio
School: Royal Oak High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Argentina position papers GLIMUN 2015 committees
With Argentina being one of South America’s largest economies, the growth development of the nation’s sectors are wide ranged. Currently, Argentina’s promotion of economic development is brought up with social inclusion policies as well. With the economy growing steadily over the past decade, argentina has heavily invested in the health and education sectors. The nation has prioritized social spending through various programs such as the Universal Child Allowance which affects 9.3% of the population. Although other sectors, such as tourism and agriculture, are still large economic factors of the country, the nation of Argentina is ready to invest more in the advancement of better health as well as providing more opportunities in rural development. The Socio-Economic Inclusion in Rural Areas project will benefit many poor rural families in isolated communities and will improve community infrastructure and allow for market access to their products.
The highest contributor to Argentina’s GDP is the manufacturing industry, which was 18% of its total. Industrial production has become highly diversified ranging from capital goods of food processing to auto parts and even pharmaceuticals. There will be an Industrial Strategic Plan 2020 which aims to reduce imports of the nation by 45% that will increase production in other sectors and that will also reduce the unemployment rate by 5%. The plan’s upcoming forums will work in accordance with many industrial and manufacturing long term growth targets such as the insertion of small and medium businesses in the production chain to promote growth.
Argentina is also abundant in natural resources. Although mining within the country contributes to 4% of the GDP, Argentina acknowledges the detrimental effects resource extraction can have on the environment. The Argentina Mining Environmental Restoration Project effective by 2008 strengthens the government's ability to assess and mitigate environmental risks in relation to the mining sector and to also reduce potential economic and health damages associated with a closed uranium site in Mendoza. Effectively evaluating a sector’s consequential effects to the community is an important aspect that must be looked at when choosing to further develop an economic sector within a country.
