Many economic scholars attribute the founding of ECLA and its policy implementation in Latin America for the subsequent debates on structuralism and dependency theory.

Although forming in the post-war period, the historic roots of ECLA trace back to political movement made long before the war had begun.

In order to maintain stronghold over future developmental initiatives, ECLA and its branches continued providing financial support to Peru to assist in the country's general development.

[8] The terms of trade at this time, set by the United States, introduced the concept of "unequal exchange" in that the so-called "North" mandated prices that allowed them a greater return on its own resources than that of the "South's".

Social problems were still overwhelmingly prevalent; large portions of the population were unnourished and without homes, and the education and health system were inept.