The Developmental Implications of Migration From and Between Small Island Nations
| Author | C. A. Tisdell,D. L. McKee |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2435.1988.tb00661.x |
| Date | 01 October 1988 |
| Published date | 01 October 1988 |
The Developmental Implications
of
Migration
From and Between
Small
Island Nations
D. L. McKEE* and C.
A.
TISDELL**
In
some small island nations of the Third World, population pressures may carry the
potential for short circuiting the hopes of those concerned with the overall issue of
economic expansion.
In
this regard it may seem that such jurisdictions are
no
different
from larger emerging nations where population problems have been well documented. If
anything, it may appear that amongst smaller nations, especially those of the island
variety, scale and environment cooperate in making the overall population issue less
acute. Thus, in those nations at least, it may seem that the response to the question ‘Will
Third World countries be capable
of
improving the levels of living for their people with
the current and anticipated levels of population growth? (Todaro, 1985, p.180) is
yes.
Unfortunately, smallness is
no
insurance against the problems
of
overpopulation.
In
fact, small island nations may be facing a dichotomy based upon size. They are too small
for modernization to generate the domestic markets which would provide the work
opportunities which are needed
to
support economic development. Yet increases in their
populations may not alleviate that problem
;
rather the rising populations may tax food
and other resources thus making the nations in question even more dependent upon
external linkages and less able to chart their own expansion paths.
Of course it may be possible in some cases for small island nations to employ external
linkages themselves as a means of development. Movements in this direction involving
international service activities are becoming increasingly evident. Island mini-states
have been becoming prominent in the field of international finance. Tourism is another
service industry which seems to be featured in development plans. Manufacturing for
export is also a route which some developmental efforts are taking. The types ofactivities
referred to here may all have job creation potential. Some may also contribute needed
foreign exchange. Unquestionably many such activities may have a darker side as well.
A
taxonomy of such considerations is not the purpose ofthe current discussion. Instead the
focus will be upon population pressures and more specifically upon the role of migration
in the alleviation of those pressures and hence in making continuing development
possible. The discussions will draw upon the experience of small nations in the Caribbean
basin and the South Pacific.
*
Professor of Economics, Kent State University, Kent,
Ohio
(USA).
**
Professor of Economics, University of Newcastle, New
South
Wales (Australia).
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