Cartoons and economics: general analysis based on colombian economic cartoons

May cartoons be considered as a viable and credible source for the study of economics? There is hardly any research on the subject, even though there is a quite significant amount of cartoons with economic content. This suggests that economics (and economists) have not paid enough attention and do not incorporate in their analysis a relevant primary source. The present paper aims to explore the value of using cartoons as a complementary primary source in economic analysis. We present a way of analyzing economic history through cartoons; first, reviewing cartoons which describe particular historical circumstances and second, examining cartoons that represent generic economic situations and are not necessarily linked to a historical period. We choose 17 cartoons, from different cartoonist, especially Colombian cartoonists that may give us an idea of economic matters and economic history.

El imaginario de la crisis: caricatura económica en Colombia en época de la gran depresión

ABSTRACT In this paper we use economic cartoons that were published in the leading Colombian newspaper -El Tiempo-between 1928 and 1937,as a valid primary source for analysis of the tensionsand economic situations lived in Colombia during a tough worldwide economic period. Through economic cartoon it is possible to observe the perception of public opinion on economic policies and the fear and uncertainty that these were having on ordinary people. This document is part of a larger analysis that used economic cartoons as a source for examining Colombian economic history.