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Social Science > Demography

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Cover IMF Working Papers
Are the Asia and Pacific Small States Different from Other Small States?
Ms. Patrizia Tumbarello
,
Ezequiel Cabezon
, and
Mr. Yiqun Wu
The small states of the Asia and Pacific region face unique challenges in raising their growth potential and living standards relative to other small states due to their small populations, geographical isolation and dispersion, narrow export and production bases, exposure to shocks, and heavy reliance on aid. Higher fixed government costs, low access to credit by the private sector, and capacity constraints are also key challenges. The econometric analysis confirms that the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) have underperformed relative to their peers over the last 20 years. Although these countries often face more limited policy tools, policies do matter and can further help build resilience and raise potential growth, as evidenced in the recent business cycle. The Asia and Pacific small states should continue rebuilding buffers and improve the composition of public spending in order to foster inclusive growth. Regional solutions should also continue to be pursued.
Keywords:
WP; IMF staff calculation; micro state; country authorities; real GDP; Asia and Pacific; small states; micro states; Pacific islands; growth; volatility; Asia-Pacific small state government; ECCU country; effective purchasing power; Pacific region; small states-Asia; country information; Income; Terms of trade; Government consumption; Climate change
Cover Policy Papers
Asia and Pacific Small States - Raising Potential Growth and Enhancing Resilience to Shocks
International Monetary Fund
The small states of the Asia and Pacific region face unique challenges in raising their growth potential and living standards. These countries are particularly vulnerable because of their small populations, geographical isolation and dispersion, narrow export and production bases, lack of economies of scale, limited access to international capital markets, exposure to shocks (including climate change), and heavy reliance on aid. In providing public services, they face higher fixed government costs relative to other states because public services must be provided regardless of their small population size. Low access to credit by the private sector is an impediment to inclusive growth. Capacity constraints are another key challenge. The small states also face more limited policy tools. Five out of 13 countries do not have a central bank and the scope for diversifying their economies is narrow. Given their large development needs, fiscal policies have been, at times, pro-cyclical. Within the Asia-Pacific small states group, the micro states are subject to more vulnerability and macroeconomic volatility than the rest of the Asia-Pacific small states.
Keywords:
PP; IMF staff calculation; Pacific small states; country authorities; real GDP; Pacific region; terms of trade; Asia-Pacific small state government; private sector; Income; Terms of trade; Inclusive growth; Asia and Pacific; Pacific Islands
Cover IMF Working Papers
Small Island States in the Pacific: the Tyranny of Distance
Mr. Chris Becker
This paper seeks to document key characteristics of small island states in the Pacific. It restricts itself to a limited number of indicators which are macro-orientated - population, fertility of land, ability to tap into economies of scale, income, and geographic isolation. It leaves aside equally important but more micro-orientated variables and development indicators. We show that small island states in the Pacific are different from countries in other regional groupings in that they are extremely isolated and have limited scope to tap economies of scale due to small populations. They often have little arable land. There is empirical evidence to suggest that these factors are related to income growth.
Keywords:
WP; arable land; gross national income; small state sample; small states; growth rate; microstate; economies of scale; geographic isolation; a number of small states; small states in the Pacific; Personal income; National income; Pacific Islands; Caribbean