Editing Economy of Uruguay (section)

=== Reforms after Batlle ===
[[José Batlle y Ordóñez]], President from 1903 to 1907 and again from 1911 to 1915, set the pattern for Uruguay's modern political development and dominated the political scene until he died in 1929. Batlle introduced widespread political, social, and economic reforms such as a welfare program, government participation in many facets of the economy, and a new constitution.<ref name=":1" />

Batlle nationalized foreign-owned companies and created a modern social welfare system. Income tax for lower incomes was abolished in 1905, secondary schools established in every city (1906), telephone network nationalized, unemployment benefits were introduced (1914), eight-hour working day introduced (1915), etc.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nJp513dw1oUC&q=independence+of+uruguay&pg=PA21 |title = Uruguay|isbn = 9780761444824|last1 = Jermyn|first1 = Leslie|last2 = Wong|first2 = Winnie|year = 2010| publisher=Marshall Cavendish }}</ref><ref name=":0" /> By 1929, 84% of manufacturing was concentrated in a handful of industries: meatpacking, leather and wool.<ref name=":0" /> Industrial policies further encouraging migration from rural to urban communities, as well as waves of immigrants from southern and eastern Europe.<ref name=":0" /> Investment in urban infrastructure in [[Montevideo]] and a growing economy, was capped by hosting the first [[1930 FIFA World Cup]].<ref name=":0" />

[[Claudio Williman]] who served between Batlle's two terms was his supporter and continued all his reforms, as did the next President Baltasar Brum (1919–1923). Around 1900 infant mortality rates (IMR) in Uruguay were among the world's lowest, indicating a very healthy population.

Uruguay was hit hard by the Great Depression, ending an era of export-led economic growth.<ref>{{Citation |last=Finch |first=Henry |title=Uruguay since 1930 |date=1991 |work=The Cambridge History of Latin America: Volume 8: Latin America since 1930: Spanish South America |volume=8 |pages=195–232 |editor-last=Bethell |editor-first=Leslie |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/abs/cambridge-history-of-latin-america/uruguay-since-1930/C04EAA97219A4ED4422AC657D78A7501 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |doi=10.1017/chol9780521266529.004 |isbn=978-0-521-26652-9}}</ref>