The Incidence of Mining: An Analysis of Economic Growth in the Centinela del Cóndor Canton

Abstract

The present research analyzed the impact of mining on the economic growth of the Centinela del Cóndor canton. The study was oriented toward examining the incidence of mining on the canton’s performance in recent years. A mixed-method approach with a concurrent design was used. For the quantitative part, a structured survey was applied to 67 inhabitants, selected through probabilistic cluster sampling, and for the qualitative part, a bibliographic review was conducted using a documentary analysis matrix. The quantitative results showed that 73.1% agreed that mining has generated both formal and informal employment, while 91.8% considered that mining activities have contributed to improving their income. In the qualitative analysis, it was interpreted that mining has been consolidated as a driving force for the local economy, generating direct and indirect effects in the commerce and services sectors; meanwhile, the agriculture and livestock sectors have reduced their participation in the canton’s productivity, since the population has increasingly dedicated itself to mining activities. It was concluded that mining has indeed influenced the economic growth of the canton, as it helps to stimulate the local economy and contributes to income generation.