Comparative perspectives on illicit crop economies and non-punitive rural drug policies

This panel explores the latest findings regarding the structure of illicit crop economies in the Andean and Mexico region, and the impact of novel, non-punitive and traditional rural drug policy interventions on production and development outcomes. LeCour discusses the Mexican case where opium functions as a “political opiate”: one that allows marginalized regions to economically survive, while the State limits its social, educational, and development functions to a minimum, and focuses on armed repression and eradication. Restrepo presents an updated analysis of the social control policy and its development outcomes in Bolivia, the only country to accept coca in the rural development mix. López-Uribe examines the use of land titling in Colombia as a policy to bolster crop substitution, a cost-effective way of incentivizing agricultural diversification.