157 research outputs found
Human Well-being in the Pacific Island Mini States
No full textAzmat Gani argues that most Pacific Island mini states are off track to achieve satisfactory levels of well-being. Poverty levels are high; children under the age of five years are underweight; immunization rates are deteriorating; maternal mortality rates are high; and gender gaps are increasing. He looks at what data is available in order to show the low levels of well-being and what gaps need to be filled if these mini states are to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Institutional Quality and Trade in Pacific Island Countries
No full textThis research examines the impact of institutional quality on trade in selected Pacific Island Countries (PICs). Four indicators of institutional quality are chosen: government effectiveness, rule of law, regulatory quality and control of corruption; for six PICs: Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu.Institutional Quality on Trade
Some Aspects of Trade between Australia and Pacific Island Countries
No full textAbstract Australia and Pacific Island countries (PICs) have maintained an ongoing trade and economic relationship for several years. The determinants of trade between Australia and PICs are examined using a gravity model by utilising time-series cross-country data for the period 1981 to 2005. The empirical findings indicate that imports by PIC from Australia are significantly determined by PICs' population and their per capita GDP. The results also suggest that PICs' exports are significantly determined by PICs and Australia's population, PICs' infrastructure (telecommunications) and the distance to Australia. Consistent with the findings of other studies using the gravity model, distance is found to be a friction to PICs' exports to Australia. While this study identifies factors influencing PICs' trade with Australia, a more substantial issue for the governments and trade policy makers in PICs is to look into the generally disappointing long-term trade performance. From a policy perspective, PICs would need to seriously look at increasing their export potential. Copyright 2009 The Author. Journal compilation 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Symptoms of Imminent Eclampsia Among Women Attending Care at Muhimbili National Hospital: A Case Refferent Study
No full textPreeclampsia affects about 5 to 10% of all pregnancies and eclamptic seizure is one of its serious complications. In many developing countries including Tanzania, maternal and perinatal mortality due to eclampsia are high. As yet, primary prevention of eclampsia is not possible since the causes are largely unknown. Headache, visual disturbance, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting have been reported by various studies to precede most eclamptic seizures; thus could be used to predict and therefore prevent some cases given the availability of magnesium sulphate. These symptoms however are also common in normal pregnancy and post delivery mothers due to physiological changes of pregnancy and common disease conditions that usually affect pregnant women in our settings. The present study evaluated the characteristics of symptoms that are consistent with imminence of eclampsia This was a case referent study in which 123 eclamptic and 123 non eclamptic mothers that best matched in terms of age, parity, gestation age and delivery were enrolled, making a total of 246 women. The presence and characteristics of headache, visual disturbance, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting were enquired. A 4 grade scale was used to grade the severity of headache. In the rest of symptoms, common presenting features were utilized. Headache was common in both groups but was more frequent in eclamptic than in referent group of women (88% vs. 43%, p <0.001). In eclamptic mothers headache was mainly severe, frontal and most of the seizures happened within one week of the onset of headache, as compared to referent women where headache was mostly mild and either frontal or generalized. Visual problems were significantly frequent in eclamptics than in referent women, (39% vs. 3% p<0.001). Of the eclamptic mothers who presented with visual problems, 45(94%) had blurring of vision, 32(67%) had blind spots, 10(21%) had photophobia and only 7(15%) had total blindness. A total of 47(98%) of eclamptic mothers developed seizures within 12hours of the onset of visual problems. The frequency of abdominal pain was not significantly different between eclamptic and referent mothers (47% vs.38% p=0.156), however upper quadrant abdominal pain was significantly reported in eclamptic than in referent group of women (36% vs.9%, p=0.001). There was no significant difference on the type of abdominal pain presented by both groups. Nausea was common in both eclamptics and referent group of women (60% vs. 54%, p=0.303). There was no difference on presentation with vomiting among eclamptic and referent women (62% vs. 68% p=0.516) and in both groups the type of vomiting was commonly non projectile. This study has revealed that headache, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting are common to pregnancy whether or not complicated by preeclampsia/eclampsia. The characteristics of headache, visual disturbances and abdominal pain differ between eclamptics and women without preeclampsia/eclampsia. In a pre eclamptic woman, an onset of a severe frontal headache or upper quadrant abdominal pain would suggest an occurrence of seizures within one week. Visual disturbance is the most ominous sign as seizures ensue within 12 hours of its onset. Nausea and vomiting cannot be reliably used to predict clampsia.\u
An economic analysis of factors influencing fertility in the Pacific island countries
No full textFactors influencing fertility rates in the developing island countries of the South Pacific are investigated using a simple model incorporating cross‐country data. Empirical results obtained provide confirmation that high infant mortality is significantly associated with high fertility rates. The results also provide strong support in favour of inverse correlations of family planning, urbanisation, female education and incomes with fertility rates. Drawing on empirical results, the major policy implication states that more resources are needed to allow improvements in the status of female and infant health.</jats:p
The Logistics Performance Effect in International Trade
No full textThe continuous growth in world trade depends on the efficiency of trade support structures such as the logistics services. Despite logistics integral role in supporting commercial activities, there has generally been a low level of analysis and trade policy research focus from trade practitioners. This paper explores the effect of logistics performance in international trade. The analysis draws on overall logistics performance as well as disaggregated measures of logistics specificities data for a large sample of countries. The empirical analysis involved the estimation of standard export and import equations incorporating measures of logistics performance. The findings show that the overall logistics performance is positively and statistically significantly correlated with exports and imports. The analysis is also extended by investigating if logistics specificities mattered for international trade. The findings reveal that several dimensions capturing logistics performance have statistically significant and positive effect, mostly on exports. The main policy implication is that continuous investment in logistics infrastructure and services can positively impact international trade
An econometric analysis of growth performance and adjustment under policies inspired by the IMF in the Pacific Island economies : a thesis presented to Massey University in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Institute of Development Studies
No full textThis study, utilising a region-country-specific approach, examines the experience of four Pacific island economies (Fiji, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Western Samoa) under policies inspired by the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) during 1980-92. To achieve this, the study examines the nature and the causes of economic crises in these countries and IMF's policy response. An empirical analysis of this study starts with a formulation of a growth model within the new endogenous theory of growth, examining the significance of a range of factors thought to have influenced growth performance. The theoretical arguments of IMF-inspired policies and an empirical analysis testing the arguments are also examined. The central concern is how far IMF-inspired macro policies produced desired objectives. This is investigated through an econometric analysis of the relationship between the objective variables of sustained growth, a viable balance of payments and low inflation, and a number of its instrumental tools, and examines the contribution of IMF-inspired policies on the socio-economic development of these countries. The results show the economic crises during 1980-92 were a product of a combination of internal economic and non-economic and external factors causing sluggish growth, large deficits in current account, deteriorating balance of trade and inflationary pressures. The investigation of the crises revealed that some factors were common in all four countries while others were country specific. Empirical results show high inflation, low levels of outward orientation, high government consumption, exchange rate variability and vulnerability to the vagaries of natural disasters and the international economic environment adversely affected growth performance. Empirical results provide weak evidence of political instability adversely affecting economic growth while investments in human and physical capital did not contribute to growth. In evaluating IMF-inspired policies, the developing South Pacific country case studies indicate that such policies have satisfactorily shown most of the desired effects of policy variables on the stated macroeconomic objective of a viable balance of payments in all four countries. However, while some effects of the policy changes on the objective variable are as expected and desirable, their impacts are insignificant in most cases. The growth objective was most effectively met in Western Samoa, balance of payments in Fiji and price stability in PNG. The theoretical arguments of the study also reveal that IMF-inspired policies have been rigid, inclined to the monetary approach to the balance of payments, but generally failed to take into account the preferences of people in a country and the impact on them. This analysis largely complements this theoretical contention, revealing slowing and sometimes reversing progress in incomes, real wages, food prices, employment creation, provision of health services and nutrition levels, and showing that IMF-inspired policies did not make a significant contribution towards enhancing the standard of living. The study concludes that solving the development problem of South Pacific countries requires more than simply targeting macroeconomic variables. IMF-inspired policies that take into account the macroeconomic as well as socio-economic variables are a first step in enhancing the growth and development of the developing countries in the South Pacific and providing long-term betterment for the people
Some empirical evidence on the determinants of immigration from Fiji to New Zealand: 1970-94
No full textThis paper formulates and tests a model for migration from Fiji to New Zealand within the human capital framework using time-series data from 1970-94. The error-correction model, which appears to adequately characterise the data generation process, reveals that wage and unemployment differentials are statistically significant variables explaining permanent and long-term migration from Fiji to New Zealand. Equally important are the findings for the living standard differential between Fiji and New Zealand and Fiji's political instability, while exhibiting the correct signs on their coefficients, these are not statistically significant variables in explaining permanent and long-term migration. The cost variable did not prove to be important in explaining migration from Fiji to New Zealand.
Economic growth in Papua New Guinea: some empirical evidence
No full textThis article presents econometric results of economic growth in Papua New Guinea on the basis of annual time-series data covering the period 1970?92. The results do not show any statistically significant evidence of investments in physical and human capital contributing to economic growth. Exports and stable exchange rates have positively contributed to economic growth, while high inflation and high government consumption have, statistically, significantly depressed economic growth. There is weak evidence of the external economic environment and social and political instability having adverse effects on economic growth
Economic aspects of migration from Fiji to New Zealand
No full textThe objective of this dissertation is to estimate an economic model of emigration from a middle income country, Fiji, to a high income country, New Zealand. Using panel data for the years 1987 to 1990 and time-series data for the years 1965 to 1990, this research develops two models and focuses on permanent and long-term migration. The thesis consists of six chapters. Chapter 1 provides an introduction to the study. Chapter 2 is devoted to a discussion of migration in an international context. Chapter 3 presents an outline of migration to New Zealand in general and describes New Zealand immigration policy. The chapter also discusses migration from Fiji to New Zealand. Models of migration are described in chapter 4. Chapter 5 discusses the empirical findings in the context of the hypothesised models. A summary of conclusions of this study and ideas on future research are presented in chapter 6. Overall, the results indicate that economic factors as well as political and social factors are important determinants of migration
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