There were carpenters and smiths right on the haciendas and small tanneries and soap and textile factories. Haciendas als o formed interrelated and complementary production complexes amongst themselves. Through this interrelationship if one hacienda did not produce enough of certain items others would supply them, thus they could avoid going to the open market. To avoid the open market the miners of the north acquired extensive haciendas that would provide goods for them. Because of this system money was used as a measure of value, but was rarely ever seen or changed hands.
Many studies focus on the social aspect of the hacienda.
Being a business enterprise the hacienda has an economic aspect that many people do not realize exists. It is important to look at the economic aspect of the hacienda because many people made their living through haciendas, either by owning or working them. I would like to focus on the economic aspect, taking into account the resources, distribution of products, costs, and profit. There are few private sources where this information might be obtained. I will look at labor, credit and one case study.