Economy Overview
Argentina benefits from rich natural resources, a highly literate population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a diversified industrial base. Although one of the world's wealthiest countries 100 years ago, Argentina suffered during most of the 20th century from recurring economic crises, persistent fiscal and current account deficits, high inflation, mounting external debt, and capital flight. A severe depression, growing public and external indebtedness, and an unprecedented bank run culminated in 2001 in the most serious economic, social, and political crisis in the country's turbulent history. Interim President Adolfo RODRIGUEZ SAA declared a default - at the time the largest ever - on the government's foreign debt in December of that year, and abruptly resigned only a few days after taking office. His successor, Eduardo DUHALDE, announced an end to the peso's decade-long 1-to-1 peg to the US dollar in early 2002. The economy bottomed out that year, with real GDP 18% smaller than in 1998 and almost 60% of Argentines under the poverty line. Real GDP rebounded to grow by an average 8.5% annually over the subsequent six years, taking advantage of previously idled industrial capacity and labor, an audacious debt restructuring and reduced debt burden, excellent international financial conditions, and expansionary monetary and fiscal policies. Inflation also increased, however, during the administration of President Nestor KIRCHNER, which responded with price restraints on businesses, as well as export taxes and restraints, and beginning in 2007, with understating inflation data. Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER succeeded her husband as President in late 2007, and the rapid economic growth of previous years began to slow sharply the following year as government policies held back exports and the world economy fell into recession. The economy in 2010 rebounded strongly from the 2009 recession, but has slowed since late 2011 even as the government continued to rely on expansionary fiscal and monetary policies, which have kept inflation in the double digits. The government expanded state intervention in the economy throughout 2012. In May the Congress approved the nationalization of the oil company YPF from Spain's Repsol. The government expanded formal and informal measures to restrict imports during the year, including a requirement for pre-registration and pre-approval of all imports. In July the government also further tightened currency controls in an effort to bolster foreign reserves and stem capital flight.
Agriculture Products
sunflower seeds, lemons, soybeans, grapes, corn, tobacco, peanuts, tea, wheat, livestock
Industries
food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel
Industrial Production Growth Rate
-0.4%country comparison to the world: 139 note: based on private estimates (2012 est.)
Labor Force
17.05 millioncountry comparison to the world: 36 note: urban areas only (2012 est.)
Unemployment Rate
7.2% (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 79 7.2% (2011 est.)
Population Below Poverty Line
30% note: data are based on private estimates (2010)
Household Income or Consumption by Percentage Share
Lowest 10%: 1.5%
Highest 10%: 32.3% (2010 est.)
Distribution of Family Income Gini Index
45.8 (2009)country comparison to the world: 36
Budget
Revenues: $121.3 billion
Expenditures: $133.6 billion (2012 est.)
Public Debt
44.8% of GDP (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 77 41.7% of GDP (2011 est.)
Central Bank Discount Rate
NA%
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate
Stock of Narrow Money
$65.63 billion (31 December 2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 43 $50.25 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of Broad Money
$148.6 billion (31 December 2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 50 $123.7 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of Domestic Credit
$161.9 billion (31 December 2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 44 $132.2 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Market Value of Publicly Traded Shares
$43.58 billion (31 December 2011)country comparison to the world: 50 $63.91 billion (31 December 2010) $48.93 billion (31 December 2009)
Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold
$43.25 billion (31 December 2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 45 $46.35 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Debt External
$113.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 44 $114.7 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of Direct Foreign Investment at Home
$107.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 39 $94.86 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad
$32.91 billion (31 December 2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 40 $31.86 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Exchange Rates
Argentine pesos (ARS) per US dollar -4.54 (2012 est.) 4.11 (2011 est.) 3.9 (2010 est.) 3.71 (2009) 3.16 (2008)
