This article presents the preliminary results of a research project on the obstacles to the economic development of Chile from Independence to 1910. The first part tests the arguments set out in two well known theories against Chilean data and concludes that new hypotheses are required to solve the problem. The method proposed in this study is to identify the favourable conditions for development existing in other countries, and find out why these conditions did not exist in Chile. This study presents new information on two factors which did not favor Chilean development in the 19th century: demographic behaviour and the agricultural sector. The final summary stresses the need for further research on these conditions in the different regions of the country.