The best way to measure the development/growing/economic improving is exactly this. Monetary value of currency tell the story well. One can continue to stick their head in the sand and pick once in awhile while elevados are build (over-valued and all BTW) but the end-state is still the same.
The growing portion stays within the same group of people, period.
Opinions are like Ass holes, everyone has one. but in your case and your time here, I know who has their head in the sand. once in a while is not a period of over 20 years or in AE's case 50 years. . Was not a big fan of Joaquín Balaguer. but the DR at that time did not have the debt load that it now has. But on the other hand was somewhat stagnant. As far as the elevados being overvalued are you talking cost or usage. You should have seen the traffic chaos at the roundabouts a Churchill an Avenida Tiradentes
As AE indicated Metaldom was in the boonies, and what was north of Kennedy was campo, excluding Arroyo Hondo Viejo an jardín Botánico