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4 years ago in Economic History , History By Roma

What share of Venezuelan local income supported the crown at the turn of the nineteenth century?

I'm analyzing the fiscal structures of the Spanish Empire just before the independence movements. Pinpointing the exact percentage of local income that was siphoned to the metropole in Venezuela is crucial for my dissertation on colonial economic burdens. I’ve found conflicting figures in the archives and need a clearer picture of the crown's actual extraction rate.

 

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By Sumitra M Answered 1 year ago

Based on my research into Spanish colonial accounts, I would recommend looking at the Situado and other treasury records. The portion sent to the Crown was often less than one might assume, typically between 15-25% of official revenues around the turn of the century. However, I have seen that the real figure is complex; a significant portion stayed for local administration and defense. The "crown's share" was also highly variable year-to-year, depending on trade flows and smuggling, which was rampant.

 

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