The Political Economy of Economic Reform in the Pacific, Published 2011

This publication, prepared as background for the Pacific Approach, comprises a set of studies by researchers who examine the political economy of the Pacific DMCs within different disciplinary frameworks.

Tuvalu: 2006 Economic Report, From Plan to Action, Published in 2007

Juumemmej: Republic of the Marshall Islands Social and Economic Report 2005, Published in April 2006

Juumemmej 2005 reports on the major social and economic issues that underlie and affect the aspirations of the Marshallese people, paying particular attention to how the Republic of the Marshall Islands can alleviate poverty and hardship among the least fortunate of its citizens. This summary of Juumemmej 2005 highlights the key findings, issues, and recommendations made in the full report.

Federated States of Micronesia 2005 Economic Report: Toward a Self Sustainable Economy

The report focuses on the major economic reforms required to put the FSM economy on a sustainable growth path. This is especially important at this critical juncture for FSM with the more restrictive aid regime of the amended Compact of Free Association or Compact II following below potential economic performance during Compact I.

The need for major economic reforms is widely recognized in FSM, and the government has prepared a Strategic Development Plan (SDP) to facilitate the transformation of the economy. This report complements the SDP and is intended to enhance its implementation.

Trust Funds in the Pacific, 2005

This report analyses the trusts funds of the Pacific and the role they play in foreign assistance, public finance, and economic development. The report outlines basic principles, technical issues, detailed cases, and trust investment management issues.

Climate Proofing: A Risk-based Approach to Adaptation, 2005

The studies are designed to assist Pacific Developing Member Countries (PDMCs) to enhance their adaptive capacity and resilience to climate change and variability, including extreme events. The Climate Change Adaptation through Integrated Risk Reduction (CCAIRR) framework and methodology have been used to demonstrate a risk-based approach to adaptation and the mainstreaming of adaptation through risk assessment, adaptation planning, and policy development, by climate proofing infrastructure, and through community and other development initiatives.

Toward a New Pacific Regionalism, 2005

This report analyses issues and possibilities for a new Pacific regionalism, in the context of the commitment of Pacific Island Forum leaders to create a Pacific Plan for Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Integration. The report discusses different objectives for regionalism (including provision of services and market integration) and notes that varied approaches and sub-regional groupings will be appropriate to meet different objectives. Initial assessments of possible regional initiatives are presented under the proposed four pillars of the Pacific Plan. The report also discusses the political economy issues for creating a new Pacific regionalism.

Pacific Region Environmental Strategy 2005-2009: Executive Summary, Published in January 2004

Pacific Region Environmental Strategy 2005-2009 Volume I: Strategy Document, Published in January 2004

Pacific Region Environmental Strategy 2005-2009: Volume II: Case Studies, Mainstreaming the Environment in Development Planning and Management, Published in January 2004

The Pacific Region Environmental Strategy (PRES) is the result of a regional technical assistance funded by ADB and the Government of New Zealand. The study covers a review of key environmental issues and main response strategies in the Pacific an assessment of past environment-related assistance provided by ADB and other development partners in the region to draw relevant lessons, and
an identification of priority areas for intervention to map out future directions for ADB’s environmental assistance to the region.

The main PRES volume contains findings and ADB’s environmental assistance strategy for the Pacific. The second PRES volume documents case studies carried out to provide important field level context under the theme “mainstreaming environment in development planning and management.” The PRES is part of a broader strategic planning exercise covering ADB’s overall assistance to the region for the period 2005-2009.

Remittances in the Pacific: An Overview, March 2005

The report provides an overview of labor migration from Pacific island countries and the remittances that follow.

Hardship and Poverty in the Pacific, December 2004

This report aims to further the analysis, awareness, and understanding of the nature and extent of poverty and to draw attention to the importance of developing and, more importantly, implementing measures and strategies to ensure equitable growth and hardship alleviation in the Pacific developing member countries.

Swimming Against the Tide? An Assessment of the Private Sector in the Pacific, 2004

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.

Governance in the Pacific: Focus for Action 2005-2009, Published in 2004

In the Pacific island countries, attitudes towards governance - manner in which power is exercised in the management of a country's economic and social resources for development - have changed in recent years. Public officials and elected representatives have begun to realize its importance and have incorporated principles of good governance into public sector reform programs.

While Stocks Last: The Live Reef Food Fish Trade, 2003

Live fish have long been traded around Southeast Asia as a luxury food item. Fish captured on coral reefs entered this trade only in recent years but, because of their superior taste or texture, have become the most valued fish in the trade.

This book is the result of the work by nine independent scientists who agreed to contribute their time to write on specific topics within their individual expertise on live reef food fish (LRFF) trade issues.

The picture that emerges from this book is extremely worrying: the LRFF trade has caused degradation of the resources on which the trade depends, and hence has to move farther and farther from the main market centers in order to continue to supply them.

The book provides scientific evidence for the need to curb and manage the capture of wild live reef food fish, and proposes ways to help entrepreneurs and fishers reform the trade based on limiting fish capture and hatchery rearing the fish.

Information and Communication Technology for Development in the Pacific, 2003

Information and communication technology (ICT) holds tremendous promise for improving economic growth and the quality of life. But as technology capabilities advance at lightning speed, there is concern that the small and remote island countries of the Pacific will be left further behind.

Part of the Pacific Studies Series, Information and Communication Technology for Development in the Pacific illustrates the positive role ICT can have in assisting governments to reduce poverty and improve socioeconomic development in the Pacific region.

This booklet aims to help define strategic directions and encourage organizations to reduce poverty by improving the delivery of basic services, such as education and health, through the use of ICT.

Tuvalu 2002 Economic and Public Sector Review, Published in November 2002

This book analyzes the economic situation of Tuvalu, and examines key issues, including natural resources, health, education, and the public sector.

It reports that Tuvalu will always be prone to external shocks, but with good governance it can continue to be economically and socially stable.

Monetization in an Atoll Society: Managing Economic and Social Change in Kiribati, December 2002

This report analyzes the economic situation in Kiribati in detail, describes various sector performances, and identifies development opportunities, constraints, and policy options. Especially, the role of the government in development is critically analyzed and concrete policy responses for potential incorporation in the Government’s development strategies to improve this are suggested.

The Contribution of Fisheries to the Economies of Pacific Island Countries, July 2002

Fish, fishing, and fisheries--the various products, the trade, and the industry--all benefit the people and economies of the Pacific in a variety of ways, but the full value of these benefits is not reflected in the region's statistics. The research summarized in this report reaffirms the importance of this sector to the economies and societies of the Pacific Island countries.

Financial Sector Development in the Pacific DMCs - Volume 1: Regional Report, September 2001

Financial Sector Development in the Pacific DMCs - Volume 2: Country Report, September 2001

This regional report assesses the state of financial sector development in seven of the 12 Pacific developing member countries of the ADB.

It consolidates the findings of individual country reports on the Fiji Islands, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu (presented in a second volume), and recommends strategies for developing sound financial systems in the areas of

• macroeconomic policy

• banking systems

• nonbank financial institutions

• financial markets

• microfinance

• land tenure systems

Republic of Marshall Islands: Meto 2000 Economic Report and Statement of Development Strategies, April 2001

To serve the needs of the people of the Marshall Islands, this report looks not only at the different elements of the economy, but also at cultural, historical and external influences on economic behavior.

It reflects a consensus in the community about the country's economic performance and prospects. It also presents what needs to be done to turn Marshall Islands’ potential for sound economic growth into reality, and how this may best be organized and implemented.

Vanuatu: Agriculture and Fisheries Sector Review 2000, April 2001

Vanuatu is rich in natural resources and has the potential to develop its agriculture and fisheries sectors to competitive levels.

This report

• reviews the performance of the agriculture and fisheries sectors over the last 20 years

• analyzes the development opportunities and constraints, and the institutional capacity constraints

• proposes appropriate sector strategies, based on Vanuatu's comparative advantages

Tuna: A Key Economic Resource in the Pacific, March 2001

This report highlights the importance of tuna in the economies of the Pacific countries. Considering the limited exploitable resource of these countries, it may be argued that for people of the Pacific, tuna is not only a key resource but often the key resource.

The future food security and economic development of the Pacific region will undoubtedly be linked to the responsible and sustainable management of its tuna resources. This report provides valuable insights into how such resource management can be achieved.

Samoa 2000: Building on Recent Reforms, Published in November 2000

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of current economic and key sector developments in Samoa.

The immediate challenge of the Government is to continue the momentum of the recent economic reforms and in particular make more effective progress with reform of various public enterprises to improve their efficiency and effectiveness. Other important challenges include:

• making further progress on budget reforms

• broadening the tax base

• addressing infrastructure and policy weaknesses in the rapidly growing fishing sector

• improving the quality of primary education, the scope and effectiveness of preventive health care, and the prospects of poorer people in society

Pursuing Economic Reforms in the Pacific, October 1999

This report is concerned with how better to assist the Pacific developing member countries of ADB in moving forward with the economic reforms that they are already undertaking.

In particular, it looks at the the factors constraining reforms in trade and investment policies, in competition policy, in the labor market, and in the provision of essential services

Reforms in the Pacific: An Assessment of the Asian Development Bank's Assistance for Reform Programs in the Pacific, August 1999

The 1990s has been a decade of major changes for ADB and its Pacific developing member countries (PDMCs). As ADB transforms itself from being primarily a project lender to being a broad-based development institution, a wave of economic, public sector, and governance reform has broken on most PDMC shores. ADB has assisted the reform process through provision of program loans and technical assistance.

This book presents the results of an assessment of ADB assistance to reform efforts in six PDMCs: Cook Islands, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Samoa, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.

A Different Kind of Voyage: Development and Dependence in the Pacific Islands, February 1998

A five-part publication on economic and social development in the Pacific islands, at a time of great change in the world around them and in the islands themselves. This book

• sketches the dimensions of distance, scale, variety, and change

• describes the process of achieving political independence, and some of the external constraints and opportunities that have emerged for the independent Pacific island states in their pursuit of economic growth

• looks at issues in the management of Pacific island economies, both at the level of the whole economy and in specific sectors, including foreign aid and financial systems

• discusses some of the social dimensions of the development process, and describes how problems of governance and public sector reform are evolving

• suggests broad guidelines for economic managers based on experiences of the last two or three decades in the Pacific islands and elsewhere.