Resilience building and the pacific island countries

Abstract

Many studies on small island states focus on their economic vulnerability and conclude that as a group, these countries are highly exposed to the harmful effects of external shocks. As will be shown in this article, this reality applies to the Pacific Island Countries. In spite of such exposure, many small island states register relatively high rates of GDP per capita, when compared to other developing countries. Briguglio (2004) has termed this reality “the Singapore paradox” referring to the possibility that a very vulnerable small country could actually be very successful economically. The present article argues that such a seeming contradiction can be explained by the juxtaposition of economic vulnerability and economic resilience.