A dissertation submitted to the Victoria University of Manchester in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the · degree of M.A.(Econ.) in Development Studies ¿WHAT IS THE TEXT ABOUT? The dissertation presented through this document formed part of the requirements demanded by Victoria University of Manchester (United Kingdom), to opt for the degree of M.A. in Economy in the Faculty of Economy and Social Studies. This one was approved in autumn in 1980, titled “Social Stratifica- tion on the Northwest Coast of the Province of Colon, Panama” The basic conceptual and theoretical framing expressed in this publication have been discussed and developed later in other do- cumentsrelatedwiththe Caribbeanlittoralof Panama, particularly over the Low Coast of Colon: Districts of Colon, Chagres, Donoso and Ornar Torrijos (See: Carlos David Castro Gómez (2023), The Panamanian Atlantic: economy, society and culture, Collection: Testimonies and documents - Book 1, Gardub Editions (Panama). The reasons to publish this dissertation, without translation, and at this moment, deserve some brief considerations, abo- ve all, after more than four decades of having been presented. They are considerations of form and content. The first ones are related to the testimonial nature of the dissertation and its linguistic and intellectual identity. The second ones are related with its objective and to the ownership or congruence to make pu- blic this document at the present national juncture, and naturally by its particular reference to the city of Colon and its Low Coast.