Search

The purpose of this article is to describe and analyze the changes which have taken place on the north highlands of Bolivia since 1952 with regard to the extent to which peasants in this area now participate in markets on a cash basis. The land reform, instituted in August 1953, was the most important factor in restructuring markets and marketing relations in this area. It will be seen that direct results of the land reform have not only been the distribution of opportunities for peasants to earn a cash income and their greater participation in a money economy, but also the creation of a greater number of regional and national markets. The present study covers 51 pre-reform properties. They ranged in size from 335 to 9,408 hectares, with an estimated 5,400 families living on the properties at the time of the land reform, or a total population of roughly 25,000 people. Before the land reform the management of most of the farms in this study can be characterized as absentee ownership. Of only five of the 51 farms where interviews were made did the landlord live there or remain there for any extended period of time during the year. The usual practice was for the landlord to visit his farms for a few weeks during the periods of planting and harvesting, with possibly one other visit to the farm during the year.