Pacific Economic Bulletin (1991-2010)
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/1885/157394
The Pacific Economic Bulletin was published by Asia Pacific Press at The Australian National University. It was an important resource for those interested in economic and policy developments in Papua New Guinea and the Pacific island countries.
The Pacific Economic Bulletin provided background analysis to those setting the policy agenda in regional matters, or those simply interested in keeping up with recent developments in the region.
Features included: Economic surveys Articles Focus Policy dialogue Comments Book reviews Statistical annex Readership
The Pacific Economic Bulletin’s readership included academics, researchers, diplomatic personnel, business and those in policy making areas in Pacific island institutions including banks and all areas of government.
Distribution of the Pacific Economic Bulletin to policy making areas in the Pacific islands was supported by the Reserve Bank of Australia and by the Australian Government through the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID).
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Item Open Access The 1985-86 Minimum Wages Board in Papua New Guinea(Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University) Bell, Simon C.No abstract availableItem Open Access The 1995 Organic Law in Papua New Guinea(Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University) Gupta, Desh; Ivarature, HenryNo abstract availableItem Open Access 50/50 by 2020: poverty and redistributive politics in post-independence Fiji(Asia Pacific Press, 2007) Chand, SatishThe affirmative action program launched by the Fiji Government in 2002 espoused a '50/50 by 2020' vision; that is, by the year 2020, some 50 per cent of all economic activities would be owned by the indigenous population. The surprising impact of this heavy-handed redistribution of income and wealth from the non-indigenous to the indigenous population has been poverty-raising. One in eight in the population lived in poverty in 1977, the figure had risen to one in four by 1990/91 and one in three by 2002/2003; and on current trends, would reach one in two (that is 50 per cent) by 2020. Such an outcome would be a direct consequence of these redistributive policies. While the politics of redistribution may have been compelling, its economic costs, including the impact on poverty, are devastating. The 2006 military takeover was executed to rid the country of corruption and race-based politics. Achieving these goals may have a bonus in terms of reversing the rise in poverty. Only time will tell.Item Open Access Accommodating monarchy and representative government: Tongas political reform process(Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University) Guy PowlesNext year, 2010, is destined to be a landmark year in Tonga's history, in which we will witness the most significant changes to the country's political institutions since its iconic Constitution was promulgated 134 years ago. In July last year, the government put into effect a plan that would lock reform processes into a statutory timetable. The act establishing the Constitutional and Electoral Commission requires it to submit recommendations with draft legislation within 10 months of appointment-that is, by 5 November 2009-with the intention that, after consideration by the Legislative Assembly and passage of legislation, the assembly elections will be held in 2010 under the changed system. Concerns have been expressed, however, about the short time frame, and it might be too soon to tell whether 2010 will fulfil its destiny.Item Open Access Achieving growth in the Pacific islands: an introduction(Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University) McGillivray, Mark; Naude, Wim; Santos-Paulino, AmeliaThis Focus article is devoted to development challenges facing these islands, specifically relating to the achievement of economic growth, and draws on five papers that were presented or tabled at the World Institute for Development Economics Research (WIDER) 'Fragility and Development' research project meeting held in Fiji in December 2006.Item Open Access An acronym for every problem?(Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University) Oxenford, IanNo abstract availableItem Open Access Addressing national development in the Pacific through a regional crop improvement program(Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University) Ghodake, Raghunath D.; Quartermain, Alan R.; Singh, DavinderNo abstract availableItem Open Access Addressing two critical MDGs together: gender in water, sanitation and hygiene initiative(Asia Pacific Press, 2010) Willetts, Juliet; Halcrow, Gabrielle; Carrard, Naomi; Rowland, Claire; Crawford, JoIncreasing access to water, sanitation and hygiene education and advancing gender equality are critical issues for Pacific island nations. This article proposes that water, sanitation and hygiene issues and gender equality can be constructively addressed together, with the former three providing an entry point for the latter. Empirical results are presented from strengths-based research conducted in Vanuatu and Fiji, investigating gender outcomes arising from water, sanitation and hygiene interventions. A range of positive outcomes are identified. These include some expected outcomes—for example, a reduction in women’s labour associated with collecting water—as well as several unexpected strategic gender outcomes, including women taking on leadership roles and men assuming greater responsibility for hygiene in the home. Another important finding in one community was a reduction in household violence against women caused by conflict over water management. The research articulates positive gender outcomes associated with water, sanitation and hygiene initiatives and demonstrates that these can be achieved by implementing relatively simple, cost-effective and known strategies for integrating gender considerations into water, sanitation and hygiene programming.Item Open Access Agency costs, corporate governance and the Fiji Sugar Corporation(Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University) Lal, PadmaThe Fiji Sugar Corporation, the sole miller in Fiji, has experienced declining financial performance for over a decade, despite Fiji enjoying sugar prices two to three times the average world price. The corporation?s poor financial performance has primarily been blamed on the increase in burnt cane. This paper tests the importance of factors controlled by growers and millers in explaining the decline in the profitability. It concludes by reviewing proposed policy reforms and suggests alternative policies to reverse the recent trend.Item Open Access Agricultural firm export strategies in Fiji(Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University) Luzius, MichaelNo abstract availableItem Open Access Agricultural productivity change in Pacific island countries(Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University) Fleming, Euan M.Agricultural productivity growth in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu is estimated for the period 1970 to 2002. The multiple factor productivity measure, total factor productivity (TFP), and two partial productivity measures, labour productivity and land productivity, are calculated. None of the five countries achieved significant TFP growth over the period studied. Papua New Guinea achieved growth in labour productivity, and land productivity grew significantly in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. Favourable resource endowments appear to be necessary but not sufficient to achieve substantial productivity growth. The country best endowed with natural resources, Papua New Guinea, achieved gains in all three productivity measures after 1974, as did Solomon Islands after 1987. Several options for raising farm-level productivity are briefly canvassed, including investment in human capital and rural infrastructure, agricultural research and extension, land tenure reform, provision of financial services, diversification of farming activities, management of natural resources, and institutional reform.Item Metadata only Agricultural productivity, the electoral cycle and ENSO effects in Papua New Guinea(Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University) Duncan, RoderickCommentators have suggested that there is a link between agricultural productivity and elections in Papua New Guinea. On the face of it, this seems a plausible hypothesis; however, on closer examination, there is little supporting evidence for a link between agricultural output in export cash crops and PNG elections. What does appear to be true is that recent El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events in Papua New Guinea have occurred around election years. It is these ENSO events and the droughts and floods that follow that have impacted on Papua New Guinea's agricultural productivity. The unfortunate coincidence of elections and agricultural stress could explain some of the civil unrest that occurs during PNG elections.Item Open Access Agricultural research and development on small islands and atolls: the Papua New Guinea experience(Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University) Kurika, Louis M.; Lolo, Meli; Moxon, John E.In the Pacific, food security in small islands and in atoll countries is increasingly under threat from a wide array of socio-cultural, environmental, and economic factors affecting their food production and supply systems. Given that their prospects for export-oriented agriculture and industrial development are severely limited, the solution appears to be to undertake research and development strategies that focus on improving subsistence agriculture and, where possible, cash income opportunities. This article discusses the research and development strategy adopted by the National Agricultural Research Institute in Papua New Guinea to strengthen food security in Papua New Guinea?s small islands and atolls.Item Open Access Agricultural supply response in Fiji(Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University) Haszler, Henry; Hone, Phillip; Natasiwai, TevitaThis article presents supply elasticities for 10 major food crops produced and consumed in Fiji. The estimates were derived from a stated-intention survey of rural households. The results appear to be consistent with the dual nature of Fiji's agricultural sector and show that agricultural supply response is own-price elastic for the commodities analysed.Item Open Access Agricultural Supply Response in the South Pacific(Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University) Fleming, Euan M.; Hardaker, BrianNo abstract availableItem Open Access Agriculture in the South Pacific(Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University) Eaton, Charles; Menz, Kenneth M.; Ratuvuki, Luke V.No abstract availableItem Open Access Aid has failed the Pacific(Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University) Hughes, HelenFocus item.Item Open Access APEC and its implications for Papua New Guinea(Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University) Plummer, Michael G.established pattern, with a failure to secure external fundingItem Open Access APEC development cooperation with non-members: the Forum island countries(Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University) Scollay, Robertrisking currency and fiscal crisis by mid year. The SkateItem Open Access Are Pacific countries coping with surging oil prices?(Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University) Groeger, Christine; Levantis, Theo; McNamara, Scottincluding an expensive Eurobond issue and the provision of