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Ecuador in 1999

Ecuador , In late February 1999 Ecuador entered into an economic crisis. The country faced a recession and a severe fiscal deficit, as public expenses far exceeded income. A general fall in world commodity prices resulting from the Asian financial crisis and El Niño damage to key export sectors produced a decline in export-led income. Falling oil prices led to a 20% reduction in oil revenues.

Previous state efforts to generate more revenue by increasing taxes had met with opposition. The right-wing Social Christian Party (PSC), which had formed a majority congressional coalition with President Mahuad’s Popular Democracy Party (DP), had thwarted these reforms. A 40% devaluation of the sucre led to massive withdrawals from banks. In an effort to avoid more capital flight, the government closed the banks for a week in March and froze 50% of all assets for a period of six months to one year.

Mahuad increased the price of food and other consumer goods and doubled the price of gas. Additionally, he proposed a rationalization of public finance bill that sought to decrease expenses and increase revenues by incrementing sales and income taxes, eliminating tax exemptions, speeding privatization, and reducing the state apparatus by 40%. Mahuad’s reforms were met by the general popular protest of workers, the transportation sector, and indigenous activists who engaged in massive strikes in March and July. The government negotiated, agreeing to postpone the oil increase and minimize the food increase in March and to suspend all increases for six months in July. The PSC opposed the increases in taxes and the elimination of tax exemptions, arguing instead for further privatization and new petroleum concessions.

Ecuador’s economic crisis was accompanied by a banking crisis and a political crisis. The government-appointed international review board declared some banks insolvent and others salvageable with the aid of governmental funds. Finally, despite a newly created and vulnerable coalition between the DP and centre-left Pachakutik and Democratic Left parties, congressional failure to agree on financial reforms undermined the legitimacy of Congress. In September Ecuador defaulted on its debt and became the first country ever to default on its Brady bonds, restructured debt backed by the U.S. government.

Quick Facts
Population (1999 est.): 12,411,000 (Galápagos Islands, about 15,000)
Chief of state and head of government: President Jamil Mahuad Witt
Ecuador in 1999
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Ecuador in 1999
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