YouTube MP3

Peru is currently the 5th most populous South American country and has total of twenty one cities with a population of 100,000 or more. The capital of Lima is home to about 29% of the national population and is both the political and economic centre of the country. Rural migration towards urban centres has dramatically in increased since 1940 (35% total population) until last estimated in 2005 (74.6% total population).

 

The majority of Peruvians are either Amerindians, the natives of the South America prior to the Spanish conquest and are largely Quechua speakers or persons of a mixed decent between indigenous and European decent that are predominately Spanish speaking mestizos. The following is % proportions of local population:

 

•Direct European decent:15%

•Mestizos:37%

•Indigenous:45%

•African, Japanese, Chinese and other:3%

 

The country’s unique geographical variations are reflected in the socio-economic divide that still occurs between the coastal belt, home to the mestizo-Hispanic culture and the Andes/Amazon, home to indigenous communities. The onset of economic development, increased educational access, inter marriage between groups and continued migration from rural to urban zones, an enhanced homogenous culture is in development, but this trend is still more prevailing along the richer coastal belt.

 

Though, it must be acknowledged that the Government of Peru has identified the current socio-economic divide and lack of equal opportunity. Therefore major efforts have been developed and initiated to reverse this trend. Such efforts are but are not limited to public investments in electric power, water and sanitation. Recent indicators such as the HOI (Human Opportunity Index: a tool to measure equality of opportunities and social services access) have been demonstrating concrete improvements in the country between 1995 and 2006, and this more importantly in relation to several other regional countries.

 

Also, government is tackling head on and making progress on one of the greatest divides: chronic malnutrition. The average country CMR (Chronic Malnutrition Rate) has decreased from 28.5% to 23.8% in the period of 2007-2009. Though when regional comparisons are made, average CMR still remains higher amongst rural populations at 40.3% (compared to urban populations at 14.2%).

 

Economic:

 

Since the start of the 21st century, Peru’s economy has been a top South American performer. Its main economic driving industries are fisheries, mining, agriculture and increasingly tourism. The national economy grew 9.8% in 2008 and in 2009 during the global down turn, it still managed to grow by 0.9% (Latin American average in 2009 was -2.3%) and is expected to grow during the medium term at 5.5%. The sustained economic growth has increase national averages in income and employment levels and therefore reducing overall poverty levels: even in 2009 poverty indicators highlighted continued downward trend. According to World Bank statistics, between 2005 and 2009, the national poverty rate reduced from 48.7% to 34.8%. Even extreme poverty classification (less than 1US$ daily) declined in the same period from 17.4% to 11.5%. Though, it must be noted that actual poverty rates are significantly different between geographic areas, with some areas with rates still above 60%).

 

At present the strongest local economies are Lima and the northern cities of Lambayeque, Paita, Piura and Trujillo, where their growth has been vastly supplemented by the recent agricultural export boom. Though, familiar geographic divides in the northern and southern Andes are slowly seeing the trickle-down benefits from an expansive mining industries and equitable redistribution of a mining tax. The country is the world’s biggest producer of silver, 2nd for zinc, 3rd in copper. Exportation of mining products accounted for 61% of Peru’s export revenue in 2009. Economic expansion has also by driven by construction, increased domestic consumption, exports and inbound private investment.

 

Peru is home to both natural gas and petroleum, with the small northern coastal village of Lobitos being one of the oldest and still operational oil fields in the world. So much so is national reserves, the country can export the majority of production. In 2004, the 3.8 billion US$ CAMISEA natural gas project was initiated. The project was designed to transform Peru’s energy matrix on external dependencies of fuel and convert the country into a net energy exporter (liquefied natural gas) by 2010.

Governance

Peruvian Governance:

 

The country is classified as a presidential representative democratic republic. The current constitution makes the elected president the head of state and government within a multi-party system. Under the 2000 constitutional amendment, he or she is popularly elected president for a term of five years, may only seek re-election after standing down for a least one full term, but may govern for an unlimited amount of non-consecutive terms. There is also a structure that allows for first and second vice presidents that too are popularly elected. These positions hold no constitutional functions, but the president may discharge duties upon then if it felt necessary.

 

The president will designate a prime minister and appoint members of the council of ministers, though all of these members must be ratified by congress. The principle body of the council of ministers is comprised of 17 members and headed by the prime minister. The core function of this body is to approve executive laws that in turn will be debated and ratified in congress. The unicameral congress is composed of 120 members that too are elected for a 5 year term. In addition to passing laws, congress is empowered to ratify treaties, approve government loans and will approve the government budget. All proposed bills from either legislative or executive branches become law after being passed by congress and promulgated by the president, but it must be noted that president under the current constitution holds vetoing power.

 

The country is politically divided into 25 regions or departments, which are in turn composed of 195 provinces and these in turn are divided up into 1834 districts. All high authorities for government positions are elected by popular vote.