Peruvian Atlas of Economic Complexity

As a result of a research collaboration with CONCYTEC, the Growth Lab developed The Peruvian Atlas of Economic Complexity as a diagnostic tool that firms, investors and policymakers can use to visualize economic patterns and geographical distribution of exports, assess the export ecosystems of departments and provinces, and identify potential opportunities for diversification of products in each location. It will serve to facilitate decision making for governments at various levels, for institutions committed to the development of these regions, and for companies and investors interested in expanding into new national and international markets.

Peru faces significant differences in the distribution of income among regions. In 2014, the richest department (Moquegua) was seven times richer than the poorest two (Apurimac and Huanuco). A comparison of poverty rates among Peruvian districts (a variable not determined, but highly correlated to GDP per capita) unveiled differences of more than 300 among the poorest (Curgos district in La Libertad, with 94.8% poverty rate) and the richest (San Isidro district in Lima, with 0.3%). Among the multiple factors behind these geographical differences, productivty stands out as one of the most important.

Map depicts departments in Peru that export coffee
map depicting locations of Peruvian exports of coffee

Tree map shows product exports of Lima in 2014
tree map visual showing 2014 product exports of Lima, Peru

This project is powered with data provided by Promperu (originally collected by SUNAT) and is funded by CONCYTEC. It was developed by the Growth Lab at Harvard's Center for International Development, under the leadership of Professor Ricardo Hausmann and made available to the public in 2016.

The Growth Lab has already produced a global Atlas of Economic Complexity that enables users to visualize a country's total trade, track how these dynamics change over time and explore growth opportunities for 128 countries. Additional sub-national projects have been completed in Mexico and Colombia.