The Fijian economy underwent a 33 per cent devaluation of its dollar against its major trading pa... more The Fijian economy underwent a 33 per cent devaluation of its dollar against its major trading partners after the military coup in 1987. This move, as part of the broader structural adjustment package, was designed to boost the sluggish economy by promoting exports and discouraging imports. This study, which uses elasticities, indicates that the balance of trade will deteriorate in the short run. In the longer run, real net exports will respond positively to changes in relative prices and thus lead to a improvement in trade balance, if combined with other tools to promote private investment and raise aggregate demand.
Small island countries are attempting to deregulate their economies in order to provide flexibili... more Small island countries are attempting to deregulate their economies in order to provide flexibility to firms operating in an ever changing and challenging global market. During this process, regulators and policymakers have found themselves under immense pressure from the private sector over the nature and degree of regulation of commercial activities. Some argue that an economy left to the market will reduce the burden on the State, improve efficiency and growth, and thus contribute to the country's developmental objectives. There are others, however, who argue otherwise. They believe that competition law and policy can play important roles in the advancement of developing countries. We argue that competition policy and law are essential. What might vary between countries, however, is the mix between ex ante and ex post regulation. While regulatory frameworks are being developed in small countries, the State or the regulatory institution might have difficulty in undertaking ex post regulation for several reasons. This article demonstrates how unfair trading practices and anti-competitive behaviour were curbed in Fiji's telecommunications sector.
Since 1997, the agricultural leases on Native land, issued under the 1976 Agricultural and Landlo... more Since 1997, the agricultural leases on Native land, issued under the 1976 Agricultural and Landlord Tenants Act (ALTA), began to expire. The sugar industry is the main commodity export earner for Fiji, directly contributing about 22% of the national GDP and supporting over 25% of the country's active labor force. Fiji exports 80% of its sugar production, earning on average of $250-300 million in foreign exchange annually. Several options have been suggested, including: non-renewal of leases, with the land reverting to Fijian owners; renewal of ALTA but with land rents pegged to the gross value of production instead of the unimproved capital value; sharecropping and contract wage arrangements; and abolishment of lease arrangement under ALTA with leases to be issued under an institutional arrangement guided by the Native Lands Trust Act (NLTA). The land tenure system adopted will have a significant impact not only on the efficiency of the sugar cane sector but also on Fiji's a...
International journal of business and social research, 2013
Child labour use in developing countries has been increasing over the years. In general, it’s c... more Child labour use in developing countries has been increasing over the years. In general, it’s characterized by low wages and long hours of work under dangerous, hazardous, unhealthy and unhygienic conditions, which could lead to poor physical and mental development. It deprives a child of education and natural development. In this paper, we examined the use of child labour in Fiji. The study utilized primary data collected using a structured survey to examine the determinants of child labour. The results from this study demonstrate that the variables such as household size, household income, and the gender of children significantly affect child labour supply. Furthermore, absence of adults from households is also a causal factor contributing towards child labour. Using these results, we make a case for “luxury†and “substitution†axioms for Fiji’s Child labour market.
South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences, 1999
Small developing countries have for long acquired significant benefits through preferential tradi... more Small developing countries have for long acquired significant benefits through preferential trading arrangements. However, these benefits have led to a proliferation of inefficient industries in the recipient countries. With the recent changes in the GAIT, these inefficient industries may close and thus lead to major economic and social problems in the recipient countries. This paper utilizes the frontier production function approach to examine the efficiency status of Fiji's sugar industry. The analysis reveals that a significant level of inefficiency exists at the farm level of Fiji's sugar industry. Some of the factors that were found to effect the level of efficiency are farming status, land class and ethnicity. These factors are then used to derive policy implications.
Introduction. The objective of this study was to perform an economic analysis in terms of annual ... more Introduction. The objective of this study was to perform an economic analysis in terms of annual national human capital resource loss from young stroke mortality in Fiji. The official retirement age is 55 years in Fiji. Method. Stroke mortality data, for working-age group 15-55 years, obtained from the Ministry of Health and per capita national income figure for the same year was utilised to calculate the total output loss for the economy. The formula of output loss from the economy was used. Results. There were 273 stroke deaths of which 53.8% were of working-age group. The annual national human capital loss from stroke mortality for Fiji for the year was calculated to be F$8.85 million (US$5.31 million). The highest percentage loss from stroke mortality was from persons in their forties; that is, they still had more then 10 years to retirement. Discussion. This loss equates to one percent of national government revenue and 9.7% of Ministry of Health budget for the same year. The a...
Small island nations in the South Pacific are facing a serious problem of loss of human capital. ... more Small island nations in the South Pacific are facing a serious problem of loss of human capital. The loss of skilled and qualified personnel from the small pool is causing a major setback in terms of providing the technical expertise to forge ahead with reform programs that these economies are undertaking. Fiji's policymakers are increasingly confronting this issue, because the nation has experienced a massive outflow of skilled labor following the political instability in 1987. While there is an outflow of skilled labor, the country is also losing a large amount of financial capital. The extent of the outflow has yet to be measured due to lack of a methodology. This study advances a methodology to measure the loss to the economy arising out of human capital loss in a small island economy.
The Fijian economy underwent a 33 per cent devaluation of its dollar against its major trading pa... more The Fijian economy underwent a 33 per cent devaluation of its dollar against its major trading partners after the military coup in 1987. This move, as part of the broader structural adjustment package, was designed to boost the sluggish economy by promoting exports and discouraging imports. This study, which uses elasticities, indicates that the balance of trade will deteriorate in the short run. In the longer run, real net exports will respond positively to changes in relative prices and thus lead to a improvement in trade balance, if combined with other tools to promote private investment and raise aggregate demand.
Small island countries are attempting to deregulate their economies in order to provide flexibili... more Small island countries are attempting to deregulate their economies in order to provide flexibility to firms operating in an ever changing and challenging global market. During this process, regulators and policymakers have found themselves under immense pressure from the private sector over the nature and degree of regulation of commercial activities. Some argue that an economy left to the market will reduce the burden on the State, improve efficiency and growth, and thus contribute to the country's developmental objectives. There are others, however, who argue otherwise. They believe that competition law and policy can play important roles in the advancement of developing countries. We argue that competition policy and law are essential. What might vary between countries, however, is the mix between ex ante and ex post regulation. While regulatory frameworks are being developed in small countries, the State or the regulatory institution might have difficulty in undertaking ex post regulation for several reasons. This article demonstrates how unfair trading practices and anti-competitive behaviour were curbed in Fiji's telecommunications sector.
Since 1997, the agricultural leases on Native land, issued under the 1976 Agricultural and Landlo... more Since 1997, the agricultural leases on Native land, issued under the 1976 Agricultural and Landlord Tenants Act (ALTA), began to expire. The sugar industry is the main commodity export earner for Fiji, directly contributing about 22% of the national GDP and supporting over 25% of the country's active labor force. Fiji exports 80% of its sugar production, earning on average of $250-300 million in foreign exchange annually. Several options have been suggested, including: non-renewal of leases, with the land reverting to Fijian owners; renewal of ALTA but with land rents pegged to the gross value of production instead of the unimproved capital value; sharecropping and contract wage arrangements; and abolishment of lease arrangement under ALTA with leases to be issued under an institutional arrangement guided by the Native Lands Trust Act (NLTA). The land tenure system adopted will have a significant impact not only on the efficiency of the sugar cane sector but also on Fiji's a...
International journal of business and social research, 2013
Child labour use in developing countries has been increasing over the years. In general, it’s c... more Child labour use in developing countries has been increasing over the years. In general, it’s characterized by low wages and long hours of work under dangerous, hazardous, unhealthy and unhygienic conditions, which could lead to poor physical and mental development. It deprives a child of education and natural development. In this paper, we examined the use of child labour in Fiji. The study utilized primary data collected using a structured survey to examine the determinants of child labour. The results from this study demonstrate that the variables such as household size, household income, and the gender of children significantly affect child labour supply. Furthermore, absence of adults from households is also a causal factor contributing towards child labour. Using these results, we make a case for “luxury†and “substitution†axioms for Fiji’s Child labour market.
South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences, 1999
Small developing countries have for long acquired significant benefits through preferential tradi... more Small developing countries have for long acquired significant benefits through preferential trading arrangements. However, these benefits have led to a proliferation of inefficient industries in the recipient countries. With the recent changes in the GAIT, these inefficient industries may close and thus lead to major economic and social problems in the recipient countries. This paper utilizes the frontier production function approach to examine the efficiency status of Fiji's sugar industry. The analysis reveals that a significant level of inefficiency exists at the farm level of Fiji's sugar industry. Some of the factors that were found to effect the level of efficiency are farming status, land class and ethnicity. These factors are then used to derive policy implications.
Introduction. The objective of this study was to perform an economic analysis in terms of annual ... more Introduction. The objective of this study was to perform an economic analysis in terms of annual national human capital resource loss from young stroke mortality in Fiji. The official retirement age is 55 years in Fiji. Method. Stroke mortality data, for working-age group 15-55 years, obtained from the Ministry of Health and per capita national income figure for the same year was utilised to calculate the total output loss for the economy. The formula of output loss from the economy was used. Results. There were 273 stroke deaths of which 53.8% were of working-age group. The annual national human capital loss from stroke mortality for Fiji for the year was calculated to be F$8.85 million (US$5.31 million). The highest percentage loss from stroke mortality was from persons in their forties; that is, they still had more then 10 years to retirement. Discussion. This loss equates to one percent of national government revenue and 9.7% of Ministry of Health budget for the same year. The a...
Small island nations in the South Pacific are facing a serious problem of loss of human capital. ... more Small island nations in the South Pacific are facing a serious problem of loss of human capital. The loss of skilled and qualified personnel from the small pool is causing a major setback in terms of providing the technical expertise to forge ahead with reform programs that these economies are undertaking. Fiji's policymakers are increasingly confronting this issue, because the nation has experienced a massive outflow of skilled labor following the political instability in 1987. While there is an outflow of skilled labor, the country is also losing a large amount of financial capital. The extent of the outflow has yet to be measured due to lack of a methodology. This study advances a methodology to measure the loss to the economy arising out of human capital loss in a small island economy.
Uploads
Papers by Mahendra Reddy