Development Problems and Prospects in Pacific Islands States

Book excerpt: Pacific Island countries are undergoing fundamental political and economic changes due to the process of globalisation. Many of them are struggling to come to grips with the global economic challenges of participating in a world of freer trade. Their smallness, distance from the major markets and vulnerability to natural disasters presents special challenges. Globalisation, however, also provides a window of opportunity for some of them to improve their economic growth performance through increasing exports, investment and technological advancement and labour mobility. This book deals with a number of important issues relevant for improving the economic growth performances of the Pacific Island countries. Good governance, developing appropriate and quality institutions to promote investment and exports are major challenges for most of them. In addition, the volume also provides case studies discussing the role of foreign aid, remittances and labour mobility, role of the agricultural sector, role of the informal sector, management of public finances, and the state of the public sector reform.