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How much of Venezuela’s local revenue was allocated to royal coffers circa 1800?

I'm modeling the economic pressures in the Captaincy General of Venezuela leading up to independence. A crucial data point is the scale of fiscal drain to Madrid. I'm looking for a reliable estimate or range for the transfer of local revenue from taxes, monopolies, etc. to the royal coffers circa 1800, as opposed to what was spent locally on administration.

 

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By Pranav Answered 3 months ago

Based on the treasury records (Real Hacienda) I've worked with, providing a single percentage is tricky due to varied revenue streams. However, a robust estimate for that period suggests a significant drain. After covering local administrative and military costs in Venezuela, approximately 20-30% of the net surplus was typically remitted to Madrid as situados or direct transfers. Crucially, this doesn't capture the broader economic drain via trade monopolies. I would recommend focusing on the Caja de Caracas records for the most precise data, but that 20-30% range is a strong starting point for your model.

 

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