https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/64301 2026-04-05T00:28:12Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/64613 Title: Introduction [Profiling vulnerability and resilience : a manual for small states] Authors: Briguglio, Lino; Cordina, Gordon; Vella, Stephanie; Vigilance, Constance Abstract: This publication forms part of a project between the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Islands and Small States Institute of the University of Malta, involving a series of workshops and accompanying publications on the economic vulnerability and resilience of small states. One of the outcomes of the project was the development of an economic resilience index. The project has also led to the development of conceptual and practical approaches for profiling countries in terms of economic vulnerability and resilience. [excerpt] 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/64612 Title: Updating and augmenting the economic vulnerability index Authors: Briguglio, Lino; Cordina, Gordon; Vella, Stephanie; Vigilance, Constance Abstract: The economic vulnerability index (EVI) was initially developed by Briguglio (1992, 1993, 1995) to explain the seeming contradiction that a country can be economically vulnerable and yet register a relatively high GDP per capita. Many versions of the index were produced following Briguglio's work, including Chander (1996), Wells (1997), Atkins et al. (1998, 2001) and Crowards (1999). The general conclusion that emerged from these studies is that small island developing states tend to be more economically vulnerable than other groups of countries. The characteristics of small island developing states (SIDS) are well documented (see for example, Briguglio, 199 5 ), and include limited ability to exploit economies of scale; lack of natural resource endowments and a high import content (especially of strategic imports such as food and fuel). Other characteristics relate to limitations of production diversification possibilities; dependence on a narrow range of exports; limitations on the extent to which domestic competition policy can be applied; inability to influence international prices; and, in the case of island states, high international transport costs and uncertainties of industrial supplies due to insularity and remoteness. Small size also creates problems associated with public administration, the most important of which is probably the small manpower resource base from which to draw experienced and efficient administrators. Another problem is that many government functions tend to be very expensive per capita when the population is small, due to the fact that certain expenses are not divisible in proportion to the number of users. 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/64608 Title: Economic resilience : concepts and measurements Authors: Briguglio, Lino; Cordina, Gordon; Vella, Stephanie; Vigilance, Constance Abstract: In this paper, the term economic resilience is used in two senses respectively relating to the ability of an economy to (i) recover quickly from harmful external economic shocks; and (ii) withstand the effect of such shocks. 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/64607 Title: Juxtaposing economic vulnerability and resilience Authors: Briguglio, Lino; Cordina, Gordon; Vella, Stephanie; Vigilance, Constance Abstract: Many small states manage to generate a relatively high GDP per capita in comparison to other developing countries in spite of their high exposure to harmful exogenous economic shocks. This would seem to suggest that there are factors which may offset the disadvantages associated with economic vulnerability. As explained in the previous chapter, this could be associated with a policy framework conducive to resilience building. This chapter examines the relationship between economic vulnerability and economic resilience and presents a number implications associated with the juxtaposition of the two conditions. 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z