DEVELOPMENT MODELS, ECONOMIC ADJUSTMENT, AND OCCUPATIONAL COMPOSITION- ECUADOR, 1982-1990

This paper considers the appropriateness of development model perspect ives compared to cyclical frameworks of economic change, particularly for periods of economic decline. As a touchstone of broader processes, an occupational composition scale is employed. This represents human capital aspects of change. and includes as components occupation and e conomic activity of employment. Empirical focus is on mutations betwee n 1982 and 1990 at the national level, by gender, and for regions with in Ecuador. Results indicate that understanding change during periods of economic devolution is better achieved with economic cycle, than wi th development perspectives, but both offer critical insights. This im plies an opportunity to meld these frameworks to more fully embrace on going processes in Third World settings.