What is meant by sustainable economic development can it be achieved and what is required for its success? This is not a new question but one in which a stream of continuing research provides insight and guidance in terms of emerging alternatives. In this paper we look at the question of sustainable economic development issue in terms of existing theory as applied to Sub-Saharan Africa a region where sustainability has taken on particular importance in recent years. We develop an index of sustainable economic growth with applications to a sample of countries in Africa and which may serve as a guide to future policy. (authors)
Analysis of population dynamics/processes in Pacific Small Island Developing Countries (SIDCs) reveals a strong link between some of these dynamics (namely: high total fertility rates and youthful population structure higher urban than rural population growth and particularly in Polynesian and other countries high out-migration rates) and the employment problem. It is shown in this paper that these population processes and their outcome pose great pressure on and challenges to employment creation and development in the region. Further on the paper presents some of the policy and institutional problems that five Pacific SIDCs are facing. While acknowledging the importance of an enabling economic environment (macroeconomic policies and regulatory framework) in employment creation strategies the paper only addresses in some detail issues pertinent to institutional constraints and problems of skill formation that the Pacific SIDCs face. Some important areas requiring further policy research are highlighted at the end of the paper. (authors)
