The principle trait that can be compared in the two cities of Baltimore, Maryland and Guyaquil Ecuador is their origin as mercantile societies. In her book, A Tale of Two Cities, Townsend describes the origin and crucial difference that has sent these two cities on two completely different economic paths.
Both Baltimore and Guyaquil started as mercantilist colonies. They each were dependent on exports to keep their colony’s thriving. Guyaquil provided the world with cocaó which was popular mostly with the aristocracy of Europe. Baltimore exported tobacco, wheat, grain and beef, but found that they could not compete with the British in that market. Each colony found that trade did not provide enough jobs. This led Baltimore to take a di
Both colonies began on the same path as mercantilist societies. Their participation in trading sent each on a different path. Baltimore expanded its trading and created a free economic and political society. However, Guyaquil was forced to succumb to racial and elitist institutions which prevented them from becoming a successful capitalist and democratic society.
The economy of Guyaquil was distorted. There was no chance for economic equality. This too influenced their political system: “the idea that relative quality in wealth distribution was an antidote to political tyranny”. The economics and politics that have existed in Ecuador reflect this precisely. The people were not given the ability to have a free, capitalist economy and in the same were not given the ability
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