Publisher's Synopsis
This unique annual collection of key economic and statistical data on states with fewer than five million inhabitants is an essential reference for economists, planners and policy-makers. The Commonwealth's base definition of small states is those with a population of less than one and a half million. For comparison purposes this volume presents, where available, data on states with a population of up to five million, since many share characteristics with the smaller ones. The book contains fifty-four tables covering selected economic, social, demographic and Millennium Development Goal indicators culled from international and national sources and presents information unavailable elsewhere. A detailed parallel commentary on trends in Commonwealth small states, looking at growth, employment, inflation, human development, and economic policy, permits a deeper understanding of developments behind the figures. The book also includes four articles focusing on small and medium enterprises: ‘Small-scale Activities and the Productivity Divide' by Naren Prasad, ‘Micro-, Small and Medium Enterprises Development: Lessons from Small States', by David Ashiagbor, ‘Strengthening Supply Chains for Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in Namibia', by Watipaso Mkandawire, and ‘Experiences in Micro-, Small and Medium Enterprises Networking Across Small States in the Commonwealth', by Ram Venuprasad. Naren Prasad was formerly a research co-ordinator at the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development, Geneva and joined the ILO's International Institute for Labour Studies as a Development Economist in 2008. The other contributors are all advisers at the Commonwealth Secretariat.
