Commonwealth Economic Paper Series

This Economic Paper builds on the 2014 SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action Pathway, which provides guidance on economic, environmental and social priorities in small island developing states. It offers detailed analysis and guidance on alternative economic development strategies and recommends policies to build competitiveness in new industries.

This study examines the problems and policies for financial intermediation in small economies, including financial institutions, measures their efficiency and policy frame, and analyses the financial structure in the Bahamas, Barbados, Fiji, Hong Kong, Maldives, Papua New Guinea, St Lucia, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands and Western Samoa.

Navigating Uncertainty offers timely and expert commentary on how a new UK trade policy towards the EU and developing countries could be designed and implemented. The essays unbundle complex issues and offer a context for the current debate, as well as providing a framework within which to assess and discuss the ongoing negotiations.

This Economic Paper analyses key issues in natural resource taxation and revenue management and recommends policies that can improve countries’ economic performance. The discussion draws on economic theory, empirical evidence and the work of the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Presents a risk-based framework for implementing international financial regulation within national economies, in particular in small states. It includes case studies to illustrate how the framework can be integrated with standard setting processes to improve outcomes for small states.

This paper highlights the concerns of Commonwealth small states about unsustainable debt burdens and the emerging challenges to their overall debt sustainability. It offers key lessons learned from Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, and Seychelles.

Documents the effects of the global financial crisis on investment and private sector development in small states. It uses case studies (St Lucia, Vanuatu and Mauritius) to draw lessons from policy responses and propose further support required at both the national and international level to support the private sector through the economic crisis.

This Economic Paper assesses the potential trade effects of rules on procurement policies in Commonwealth ACP countries. It provides a practical guide for policy-makers and negotiators to determine the impact of government procurement rules and policies taken at the national level or negotiated in trade agreements.

This Economic Paper assesses new innovative measures in trade in service negotiations that reflect the vulnerabilities and challenges faced by developing countries. It outlines the approaches that can help small and low-income countries in a manner that is practical and supportive of their economic development.

As developing countries have started to open up their economies, concern about competitiveness has spread to their policy makers. Their relative competitiveness as production and investment sites has become a prime focus of development policy.