The importance of the mining sector for the development of the Chilean economy: The evolution of its fields of influence

This study analyzes how the Chilean economy has evolved, and, in particular, the importance of the copper mining sector in this process. Input-output modeling is used to measure sensitivities and structural changes in production. The information used comes from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (oecd) and covers an 11-year horizon (from 2005 to 2015). The study reveals the importance that copper has on the development of the Chilean economy. It arises in the relationship changes in the supply and demand of inputs made by this activity. Additionally, the results show a weakening in the sensitivities regarding the relations of the manufacturing industry. This effect is known in the input-output literature as "hollowing-out". A decay of the complexity of the industry's linkages implies a reduction in the sensitivity of direct, indirect, and total links with the rest of the productive system. It also means increasing dependence on the rest of the world on input providers.