LNUMSU | Uruguay | Research Paper | Section 3 | Joyce----Chen Xinran; M00079641 Jodie----Zhou Yingzhe;M00079727 | 2012/12/31 |

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Uruguay
Uruguay is located in the Southern South America, and lies at the east bank of Uruguay River and the Rio de la Plata---- at the border of the South Atlantic Ocean, and it is located between Argentina and Brazil (CIA: Uruguay: Geography). Uruguay is a country living on exporting farming and herding services and the economy of it is mainly based on agro-exporters and miners. Uruguay’s economic situation shows diverse and multi-level trends, including hydropower development, which is greatly improved and largely spread. Meanwhile, most visitors flock to beach resorts of the Atlantic Ocean such as Punta Del Este. Education is compulsory and free in Uruguay, even so, there are still many Uruguayan who choose to immigrate to Spain, in order to seek for better job opportunities (travelnationalgeographic: Uruguay Facts). In the early twentieth century, because there are a large number of agricultural products exporting to Europe and other country, it makes Uruguay became one of the rich countries in South America Currently, although the Uruguay economy which has experienced a serious of recessions can’t be compared to the past, Uruguay’s economy began to revive as Brazil and Argentina since 2004 (countrystudies: Uruguay).
This research paper is divided into four parts. In the first place we give an explanation about political aspects in Uruguay focusing on description of political system and form of government. Secondly we examine the situation on the economic front, by analyzing some relevant or revealing economic data during these years. After that, we analyze empirically how people live and for this purpose we will analyze a series of demographic information about the population of the country, its ethnic background and literacy rate. In the end, in the last part of the research, we give some brief conclusions about the topic.
1. Description relate to the politics
“In history, Montevideo, founded by the Spanish in 1726 as a military stronghold, soon took advantage of its natural harbor to become an important commercial center” (CIA: Uruguay: Introduction). On August 25th, 1825, the Uruguay is independent from the Brazilian empire and the struggle for liberty has lasted for 3 years and finally established its own freedom in 1828 (CIA: Uruguay: Introduction). José Alberto Mujica Cordano, by wining public support, became Uruguay's president in December 2009 (presidencia.gub). “Uruguay is a representative democratic republic with a presidential system” (CIA: Uruguay: Government).
When talked about Uruguay’s government method of operation, the legal system in Uruguay is “civil law system based on the Spanish civil code” (CIA: Uruguay: Government). Meanwhile, the Constitution of Uruguay divides the government into three branches: the judicial, legislative, and the executive. This approach provides checks on every branch of power by the other two branches, furthermore, “overall the three branches have achieved a workable balance with no one branch holding all the governmental power” (Kelly, par.4). In this kind of management methods which is called separation of powers, the executive power is exercised by the president; the legislative power is consist of the Bicameral and the Vice-president---who controls the chamber and the judicial department is exercised by the Supreme Court, the Bench and Judges nationwide (CIA: Uruguay: Government).
The goal of Uruguay government is to promote the development of a stable and healthy country, to let its people live better life and make the country stronger and stronger. Uruguay is the first country in the world to set up agricultural workers minimum wage standard; it is the first country in Latin America to give women's right to vote and Uruguay is also the first eight-hour-work country. Although Uruguay’s political unrest intensified in the past, and even in 1973 it has experienced a slump, Uruguay remain the political stability (countrystudies: Uruguay). In education and social development level, Uruguay is still in the forefront of the Latin American countries (CIA: Uruguay: Economy: Overview).Uruguay has been a UN member since 18th December 1945 (un.org). Uruguay also seems to be a significant partner who “plays an important role in promoting regional stability and democracy” (state.gov: Uruguay). Under the international big environment, Uruguay repeatedly serves as a consensus builder and mediator. It is a constructive component in seeking resolution for conflict, and Uruguay contributes so much in missions for keeping worldwide peace------“Uruguay has been one of the top troop and police contributors per capita to United Nations (UN) peacekeeping overall” (state.gov: Uruguay).
2. Economic conditions
Uruguay's economy is mainly depends upon the export-oriented agriculture and characterized by high levels of social spending and labor force with higher education (CIA: Economy: introduction). Uruguay, with industry underdeveloped, has an agriculture-based economy. It is a traditional farming country and it is given priority to animal husbandry products processing industry (Travel.nationalgeographic: Uruguay Facts). Nowadays, as the advanced society developing day by day, the development of economic constitution system in Uruguay has changed. According to the data from CIA website about the labor force measured by occupation labor in 2010est, the percentage of agriculture in the whole labor force was 13% ----it was close to but a little less than industry percentage which was 14%. In the mean time, the services occupation took up a large proportion of the labor force, which shows by the data: 73 % (CIA: Economy: Labor Force). From analyzing these data, it is obvious that the centre of economic gravity of Uruguay is shifting gradually and transferring to industries and services.
In addition, Uruguay’s economic development mainly depends on export; and “its leading economic sectors include meat processing, agribusiness, wood, wool, leather production and apparel, textiles, and chemicals” (evansville.edu: US Dept of State - Uruguay).Since the 1990s, the Uruguay implemented new liberal economic policies. When furthering the interests of traditional industries, Uruguay paid more attention to the development of non-traditional industries, and it actively participated in regional economic integration. The economic recovery appeared in 2003 and in increased 2004. Nevertheless, “the country managed to avoid a recession and keep positive growth rates, mainly through higher public expenditure and investment, and GDP growth reached 8.5% in 2010 and 6% in 2011” (CIA: Uruguay: Economy: Overview). Uruguay also seeks for development in trade and global commercial-----“Uruguay has been a WTO member since 1 January 1995” (wto.org).
Here are some data about GDP (Gross Domestic Product) in the nation (CIA: Uruguay: Economy). GDP (purchasing power parity): | $50.91 billion (2011 est.) | $48.16 billion (2010 est.) | $44.23 billion (2009 est.) | GDP- real growth rate: | 5.7% (2011 est.) | 8.9% (2010 est.) | 2.4% (2009 est.) | GDP-per capita (PPP): | $15,100 (2011 est.) | $14,300 (2010 est.) | $13,200 (2009 est.) | GDP-composition by sector: | agriculture: 9.4% | industry: 21.7% | Services: 68.9% (2011) | As the data shown in table above from CIA, the GDP for purchasing power parity is increasing these years from 2009 to 2011. Furthermore, the PPP continues to grow---increasing from $13,200 in 2009 to $15,100 in 2011. In addition, just like what have been mentioned above, with the regulation of industrial structure and the shift of economical development gravity, the share of agriculture reduces increasingly in the national economy, shown by the GDP----composition by sector: 9.4%for agriculture, 21.7% for industry and 68.9% in service (CIA: Uruguay: Economy).
Unemployment rate in Uruguay is 6.7% in 2010 and 6%in 2011 (CIA: Uruguay: Economy) ---a little lower in the unemployment rate in 2011 than in 2010 rate is a thing has two sides. On the one hand, unemployment weighs heavily on the society and causes instability of the society. On the other hand, higher unemployment rate represents that science and technology help improve the productivity. The Inflation rate (consumer prices) in 2010 is 6.7% but increased to 8.1% in 2011----- the augment in 2011 is negative and the country need to change this situation.
3. Information relate to demographic information.
The population of Uruguay is 3,316,328; the data was measured in July 2012 (CIA: Uruguay: People and Society). On the website of CIA, there is a population pyramid graph from which we can learn about the information of population structure:
The population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. To some extent, the population pyramid may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development; however it will depend on specific circumstance (CIA: Uruguay: People and Society).
The religious background about Uruguay is: Roman Catholic takes up the percentage of 47.1%; percentage of non-Catholic Christians is 11.1%; the percentage of nondenominational people is 23.2%, while Jewish is 0.3%, with 17.2% of total people are atheist or agnostic (CIA: People and Society: Religion). The ethnic groups composition is constituted by “white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%, and Amerindian (practically nonexistent)” (CIA: People and Society: ethnic groups). The national language in Uruguay is Spanish, in addition, English can be often understood in its famous resorts as well as the major tourist garden hotel, but it is seldom used in other places which outside those areas (travelstategovernment.com).
The population below poverty line is 18.6 of households in 2010. In Uruguay in 2003, Relative to the entire population composition, the literacy rate is 98%, women accounted for 98.4 percent of literate and the rate for male is 97.6% (CIA: People and Society). “Literacy means the ability for people at age or over to read and write” (CIA: People and Society). The literacy situation about Uruguay is at a relatively high level and its effects so far seem to be quite satisfying.
Conclusion：
In this research paper we analyze the circumstances now shown in the Uruguay including politics, economy and demography. From the research, it can prove that Uruguay has traditionally been better off than many other countries in South America, and is known for its advanced education and social security systems. On the political front, Uruguay is seeking the goal of stability as well as a healthy development; and finally its goal is gradually achieved step by step. In the economic area, although the unemployment rate is a flaw, Uruguay’s economic situation has been better and better in general, so it can see that the government and the leader of the nation are doing their job. All in all, any country has disadvantages and advantages; the key is to carry forward the merit, and to make correction of shortcomings in that country. After all， to make the country more rich and powerful is the supreme and elemental goal of the nation.
Works Cited
The World Face book, “Uruguay: Geography”, Central Intelligence Agency: the South America: Uruguay, www.cia.gov.com. 13 Dec.2012.Web. 27 Dec.2012
The World Face book, “Uruguay: Introduction”, Central Intelligence Agency: the South America: Uruguay, www.cia.gov.com. 13 Dec.2012.Web. 27 Dec.2012
The World Face book, “Uruguay: Government”, Central Intelligence Agency: the South America: Uruguay, www.cia.gov.com. 13 Dec. 2012. Web. 27 Dec. 2012
The World Face book, “Uruguay: Economy: Overview”, Central Intelligence Agency: the South America: Uruguay, www.cia.gov.com. 13 Dec. 2012. Web. 27 Dec. 2012
The World Face book, “Uruguay: Economy: Labor Force”, Central Intelligence Agency: the South America: Uruguay, www.cia.gov.com. 13 Dec. 2012. Web. 27 Dec. 2012
The World Face book, “Uruguay: Economy”, Central Intelligence Agency: the South America: Uruguay, www.cia.gov.com. 13 Dec. 2012. Web. 27 Dec. 2012
The World Face book, “Uruguay: People and Society”, Central Intelligence Agency: the South America: Uruguay, www.cia.gov.com. 13 Dec. 2012. Web. 27 Dec. 2012 https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/uy.html.
U.S Department of State, “Uruguay Country Specific Information” International Travel Information: Country Specific Information: Uruguay, www.travel state gov. 20 June 2012 Web. 27 Dec. 2012 http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1054.html
National Geographic, “Uruguay”, National Geographic: travel: Uruguay Facts. www.national geographic.com. Web. 27 Dec. 2012 http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/uruguay-facts/
Press Release ORG/1507, “MEMBERSHIP OF PRINCIPAL UNITED NATIONS ORGANS”, Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York, www.un.org. 5 Feb 2009. Web. 27 Dec. 2012 http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2009/org1507.doc.htm
World Trade Organization, “MEMBER INFORMATION---Uruguay and the WTO”, Uruguay-member of information, www.wto.org. Web. 27 Dec. 2012 http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/countries_e/uruguay_e.htm U.S. Library of Congress, “Uruguay Table of Contents: Economy”. Facts about Uruguay www.countrystudies.us. Web. 27 Dec. 2012 http://countrystudies.us/uruguay/45.htm
Presidentcia, “Presidente José Mujica Cordano”. Presidentcia: Presidente. www.presidencia.gub. 27 Dec.2012. Web. 27 Dec.2012 http://www.presidencia.gub.uy/wps/wcm/connect/presidencia/portalpresidencia/presidente Kelly, Martin, “Checks and Balances Defining Governmental Authority”. Checks and Balances - American System of Checks and Balances. www.americanhistory.about.com.Web.30 Dec.2012 http://americanhistory.about.com/od/usconstitution/g/sep_of_powers.htm The University of Evansville, “Worldview - South America: Uruguay”, Institute for Global Enterprise in Indiana, www.evansville.edu. 30 Nov. 2012. Web. 30 Dec. 2012 http://www.evansville.edu/globalindiana/southamerica.cfm?country=uruguay Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, “U.S. Relations with Uruguay”, U.S Department of State. www.state.gov. 30 Nov. 2012. Web. 30 Dec. 2012
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2091.htm