Catalog

Swimming Against the Tide?
An Assessment of the Private Sector in the Pacific

E-mail or fax the Publications Unit at + 632 636 2648 to order the printed version of this publication. Applicable shipping cost will be charged. View Document  Books, Periodicals, Studies, and Reports On-line edition: Free of Charge Hardcopy price: $10.00 ISBN: 971–561–534–1 Paperback (Pub. Date: 2004) In stock

A robust and vibrant private sector is vital to the Pacific region's long-term economic growth and improved quality of life and is a necessary condition for sustained poverty reduction. But the private sector can only flourish and create employment opportunities when the environment in which it operates is welcoming to business.

ADB recently launched an initiative to gain sharper insights into the issues inhibiting private sector development in the Pacific region. This publication contributes to the discussion by taking a hard look at the problems, evaluating them against international experience and best practices, and raising critical issues. Options and potential solutions to address these are offered to both governments and donors.

View the document [ PDF: 2,617kb | 190 pages ]. To read, you need Acrobat.

Contents

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Figures, Tables, Boxes, Abbreviations, Foreward [ PDF: 74kb | 12 pages ]

1. Diagnosis and Synopsis [ PDF: 69kb | 10 pages ]

   Constraints of the Private Sector in the Pacific

   Conclusions

   
   

2. Introduction [ PDF: 70kb | 9 pages ]

   Low Growth in the Pacific – Critiquing the Usual Assertions

   The Private Sector in the Pacific

   Private Sector Development, Growth, and Poverty Reduction

   Private Sector Assessments in the Pacific – A Framework

   Overview of the Report

   
   

3. Analytic Approach [ PDF: 115kb | 9 pages ]

   What Promotes Growth?

   What Drives Private Sector Growth?

   
   

4. Characteristics of the Pacific Countries [ PDF: 643kb | 13 pages ]

   Small Size: Issues and Implications

   Myths Concerning Small States

   
   

5. Main Issues Faced by the Private Sector in the Pacific [ PDF: 185kb | 14 pages ]

   State Interference

   Relationship with the Public Sector

   Public Goods

   High Costs

   Transport Issues

   Finance

   Natural Resource Issues

   Investment Policy

   
   

6. Financial Markets in the Pacific [ PDF: 414kb | 31 pages ]

   Financial Markets and Economic Development

   Financial Markets in the Pacific

   Secured Lending

   Microcredit

   The Role of Funding Agencies in Supplying Capital

   Making Financial Markets Work

   
   

7. Land Issues [ PDF: 94kb | 11 pages ]

   The Importance of Land Rights

   Features of Land Tenure in the Pacific

   Land Reform

   The Problem

   Conclusions

   
   

8. The State and the Private Sector [ PDF: 367kb | 31 pages ]

   The Role of the State in Private Sector Development

   Targets and Instruments of Private Sector Development Policy

   State-owned Enterprises

   Infrastructure Provision: Issues and Approaches

   Privatization in the Pacific

   Choice of Regulation

   Competition

   Governance and Public Goods Issues

   A Dysfunctional State and Private Sector Development

   Trade Policy for the Pacific

   Foreign Investment Procedures

   Conclusion

   
   

9. Sectoral Issues [ PDF: 990kb | 27 pages ]

   Tourism

   Agriculture and Forestry

   Fishing

   
   

10. Small and Medium Enterprise Development [ PDF: 49kb | 3 pages ]

    Providing Special Consideration and Assistance for Small-Scale Rural Enterprises

    Is There a Need for Generic SME Policies?

    
    

11. Toward a Strategy for Private Sector Development in the Pacific [ PDF: 170kb | 16 pages ]

    Considerations for Pacific Governments

    Funding Agencies and the Private Sector

    Considerations for Funding Agencies

    The Voyage Must Begin

Bibliography [ PDF: 47kb | 4 pages ]