Facing covid-19 in Ecuador: a blueprint for monetary policy and food sovereignty

Abstract

In Ecuador, in a context of social and political conflict, the pandemic has revealed structural problems that are becoming increasingly acute for a country with a dollarized economy. The situation has its roots in inequality resulting from a number of sources and which has become more evident during the pandemic. A compounding factor is the dislocation of a population obliged to turn to informal work or self-employment due to the application of structural adjustment policies and deregulation of markets. The government boosts large-scale mining. Within this framework, the article proposes measures that could help to mitigate some of the problems faced by a country that does not have its own currency. A major component is a what we call conditional integral regulation, together with lines of liquidity which would promote the repatriation of capital. In terms of food sovereignty, while food is available, distribution problems in an agricultural sector based on the campesino and family economy are exacerbating a situation of chronic malnutrition in children.

Determinants of self-reported health status during COVID-19 lockdown among surveyed Ecuadorian population: A cross sectional study

“…Not performing, n (%) (16) Increased performing, n (%) (25) The same performing than before lockdown, n (%) (21) Reduced performing, n (%) (38) Alcohol consumption…”

“…Thus, for more than a year, people living in Ecuador had to cope with the fear of contracting COVID-19, compounded by movement and rights restrictions, an education system that was only allowed to operate online, a collapsed health system unable to provide care for both COVID-19 and other health conditions, and an economic recession [21]. Moreover, despite some social protection measures, such as food kits adopted by local governments, NGOs, churches, and civil society organizations, many basic needs went unfulfilled owing to lockdown restrictions, such as access to medicines for chronic patients [22].…”