https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/70447 2026-04-09T14:50:08Z 2026-04-09T14:50:08Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/101143 2022-08-31T07:49:44Z 1999-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Economic self-reliance and small island developing states Abstract: The objective of this study is to test the hypothesis that small country size does not inhibit economic self-reliance. To test this hypothesis, all developing states with available statistical data were taken into consideration, and were grouped into six country-size categories. Small states were defined as those with a population of less than 5 million, while very small states with a population of less than 1.5 million. A subset of very small states, namely Barbados, Cyprus, Fiji, Malta, and Mauritius, called “reference group”, were singled out for special consideration. Since the focus of this thesis is on small states, a whole chapter is dedicated to a comparison of small states in relation to other developing countries. Three areas were considered, namely economic structure, economic performance and economic stability. Another chapter discussed the meaning of self-reliance and showed that it is subject to different interpretations. It was argued that the traditional meaning of the term is related to self-sufficiency with autarkic implications. An alternative approach to the definition was proposed. It is based on the ability of small states to produce and sell goods and services, thereby generating income to satisfy domestic needs. In other words, this definition implies a condition of non-dependence on foreign financial handouts. To test the overall hypothesis of the thesis, a composite index was constructed; sub-indices, representing factors deemed to be contributory factors to self- reliance, were chosen, namely, external debt, human resources development, foreign aid, resource balance and current account of the Balance of Payments, all appropriately adjusted to allow for across countries comparisons. It was found that there was no significant correlation between the composite index of self-reliance and country size, suggesting amongst other things, that small states are not, as a group, less self-reliant than larger countries. Correlation analysis between the composite index and GDP per capita indicated a strong association between these two variables, implying that self- reliance is related to economic development. The correlation between the composite index and a number of economic variables, deemed to be manifestations of self-reliance, was also tested. It was found that self-reliance was highly related to economic growth, geographical location and peripherality. Interestingly, though self-reliance and country size were not found to be significantly correlated, it resulted that a number of small states scored highly on the composite index, covering ninety six developing countries. Ten of the top twenty places were occupied by states with a population of less than five million people, five of which were “the reference group”. Several policy implications were drawn from the conceptual framework and correlation results. Firstly, it was argued that self-reliance does not necessarily mean self-sufficiency but the ability to generate income from economic activity. Secondly, the finding that small countries need not be necessarily less self-reliant than larger countries, in view of size, suggests that human resources play an important part in this regard. Small states, are generally poorly endowed with physical resources, and they depend heavily on human resource to generate their economic activity. Thirdly, since many small states can only attain self-reliance through participation in international trade, due to the fact that their domestic market is very limited, it follows that structured openness is an important factor. Description: PH.D.

1999-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/99493 2022-07-19T08:11:46Z 1995-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Planning a pre-school service : an early childhood development centre Abstract: My preface is based on the writings which inspired my thinking, particularly the ladies who have already established their private schools gave me more inspiration to launch my project. Their success in running them makes me wonder if I cannot also follow their examples closely so as to succeed. Will my dreams also turn into reality? One of the ladies is Margaret Skutch in her book 'Children at Work'. A practical approach to Early Education 1971. Published in Great Britain in 1973 by Elek Books Ltd. She says that when she wrote her book, she had already started a pre-school, seven years ago. She started with no experience, only a little training and practically no capital, but what she had was a lot of energy and a firm conviction that she wanted to make just as good an environment for learning as it was possible to make. Her own needs gave her more enthusiasm to start as she had two boys of her own and wanted a good school for them. She assessed her needs and found that they were unique as the Community had the similar needs. She then set to meet the needs by acquiring the training that she lacked and by finding the school room and buying the equipment she lacked. Description: P.G.DIP.ED.PLAN.&MANGT.SMALL STATES

1995-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/99491 2022-07-19T08:09:02Z 1995-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Occupational stress, job satisfaction and coping actions among Cyprus headteachers Abstract: This study assessed occupational stress amongst 241 headteachers of Primary and Secondary State Schools in Cyprus. Data were collected on demographics, sources of stress, overall stress, job satisfaction and coping actions. Over forty per cent of the respondents found their job as a headteacher either very stressful or extremely stressful. Overall stress was not found to be related to any of the demographic variables. The study revealed that the top sources of stress were mainly related to teachers. Results also showed that headteachers who reported greater stress were less satisfied with their job. It was also found that more experienced headteachers were more satisfied with their occupation. Group differences in sources of stress and coping actions were found as well. Description: P.G.DIP.ED.PLAN.&MANGT.SMALL STATES

1995-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/79528 2021-08-10T06:20:15Z 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Attitudes towards the impacts of climate change on small island states : experts' views Abstract: This dissertation attempts to survey the opinion of experts regarding a number of issues related to climate change, with special reference to the attitudes of the people in this regard and the special impacts on small island states. A number of climate experts and researchers were identified and were requested to respond to the following interrogations as to: whether climate change is really happening; whether climate change is being caused by human activities or induced by natural forces; what are the impacts of climate change; the role of governments as regards adaptation and mitigation measures and what type of measure should be used; whether different population groupings and different social groups are knowledgeable and concerned about the impacts of climate change on humans; whether small island states are more susceptible to the impacts of climate change than other groups of countries; whether they could identify 3 small island states that are the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The method used for this analysis was inspired by the Delphi Method, which consisted of rounds of questionnaires sent to these experts. The first questionnaire resulted in a number of divergent issues, however the second questionnaire tried to improve consensus on the issues involved. The main conclusions derived are that: (a) the climate is changing; (b) the change is brought about mostly by human activity; ( c) it will highly impact small island states; and ( d) sea level rise is a major negative impact on small island states. The responses also shed light on the degree of knowledge and concern by different population groups. Description: M.A.ISLANDS&SMALL STAT.STUD.

2006-01-01T00:00:00Z