Hispaniola economy was built on sugar, coffee, cotton, cacao for chocolate and slave labor. Haiti sugar was an extremely profitable operation that was in competition with the northeast region of Brazil, one of Europe’s chief sources of sugar. The French sugar and coffee operations were so productive that its exports to Europe often exceeded the total exports of the British North American colonies . When Haiti gained its independence in 1804 agricultural output declined. Christophe and Petion rule divided the island into the free, poor and relaxed yeomen in the south, and angry but prosperous workers in the north. Although land redistribution policies, social and economic reform improved the lives …show more content…
The United States of America’s army introduced modern telephones systems in the capital of Port-au-Prince. America’s military built major roads and constructed bridges. They also dug harbors, and erected much needed schools. In addition, they established clinics and other necessary public work. In the second part of the 20th century tourism became an important part of Haiti’s economy. However, political instability and AIDS paralyzed the Haitian tourism industry.
Haiti’s economy problems revolve around economic mismanagement, corruption and political instability. In chapter one of Promises Not Kept: Poverty and The Betrayal of Third-World Development John Isbister declared that in the twentieth cen¬tury, “the lives of people in the third world are changing.” Although this may be true, “they are not improving, however, at least for the majority. Haiti is listed as the twentieth poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere,
With 80% of the population living under the poverty line and 54% existing in absolute poverty. According to the International Red Cross, “seven out of ten Haitians live on less than