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Small Islands versus Big Cities: Lessons in the Political Economy of Regional Development from the World’s Small Islands

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  • Godfrey Baldacchino

Abstract

Population, employment and economic capacity continue to concentrate in and around large urban centres. If geography (measured as proximity to large centres of population) increasingly matters in the knowledge economy, then there may be no future for periphery locations. This paper critically reviews and refutes this hypothesis by looking at the world’s small islands. Handicapped by size and distance, they are unable to generate scale dynamics nor to regularly access any neighbouring, large metropolitan centres. Nevertheless, jurisdictional resourcefulness resulting from sovereignty or sub-national autonomy fosters compensatory policy capacity. Demand for niche-technology manufactures and craft-based, labour-intensive or place-specific services is likely to persist. Cyclical migration strategies allow islanders seeking work or education off island to tap the metropole and re-inject resources to reinvigorate the periphery. Remittances, aid, bureaucracy and other “rents” can provide significant fiscal resources necessary for survival. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media, Inc. 2006

Suggested Citation

  • Godfrey Baldacchino, 2006. "Small Islands versus Big Cities: Lessons in the Political Economy of Regional Development from the World’s Small Islands," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 31(1), pages 91-100, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jtecht:v:31:y:2006:i:1:p:91-100
    DOI: 10.1007/s10961-005-5015-5
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Carlos Bianchi & Pablo Galaso & Sergio Palomeque, 2023. "Knowledge complexity and brokerage in inter-city networks," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 48(5), pages 1773-1799, October.
    2. M. Deidda, 2014. "Insularity and economic development: a survey," Working Paper CRENoS 201407, Centre for North South Economic Research, University of Cagliari and Sassari, Sardinia.
    3. Camilleri, Silvio John & Falzon, Joseph, 2013. "The Challenges of Productivity Growth in the Small Island States of Europe: A Critical Look of Malta and Cyprus," MPRA Paper 62489, University Library of Munich, Germany.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    innovation; space; knowledge; regions; O11; P16;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O11 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • P16 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies - - - Capitalist Institutions; Welfare State

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