Ron Duncan

Agricultural and resource economics and economic development in Aboriginal communities

Economic development is seen as the best way for Aboriginal communities to improve their welfare and lessen the considerable disadvantages they suffer. Unfortunately, the economics profession has shown little interest in their plight. Agricultural and resource economists have much to offer in helping to foster economic development in Aboriginal communities throughout Australia. Suggestions are made as to various ways in which our particular interests and experiences can hopefully be applied.

China's inter-provincial disparities: An explanation

Chinas inter-provincial output and livelihood disparities moved in different directions in the pre-reform and the reform periods. This paper sets out to identify the driving forces behind these developments. It suggests that in the transition to a market system, China has succeeded in narrowing inter-provincial output disparities by pursuing outward-looking and de-nationalisation oriented industrialisation, but has failed to prevent a widening of inter-provincial livelihood disparities owing to the weakening of government intervention in the form of regional income redistribution.

Cultural and economic tensions in Pacific Islands' futures

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to explore the tensions likely to arise in Pacific Island countries resulting from their high-population growth rates and poor agricultural productivity growth, the difficulties of accessing land for commercial purposes, the rapid rate of rural-urban migration, the relatively high numbers of poorly educated, unemployed youth, and the political instability in several of these countries. Design/methodology/approach - The approach of the paper is essentially conceptual, linking cultural, economic, and political arguments. There is some review of the relevant literature relating to these aspects of societal behaviour in these countries. Findings - The Pacific Island countries face significant difficulties in achieving economic development, particularly those arising from the tension between their cultural characteristics and commercialization of their economies. Practical implications - For example, this paper points to the limitations of efforts to develop indigenous businesses in the traditional sector or to increase agricultural productivity in the traditional sector in Pacific Island economies. It also points to the need to focus much more attention on the local government issues arising from the rapid rural-urban migration. It also points to other areas whether government attention should be focused such as youth unemployment. Originality/value - This paper is original in its development of the interactions between the cultural and economic characteristics of traditional Pacific Island societies.

Measuring Good Governance Using Time Series Data: Fiji Islands

Abstract This paper reports on the construction of a governance index for Fiji Islands for the period 1985 to 2003. The governance index has three core dimensions, each a composite of several indicators. Time series for each of the three dimensions of governance, as well as for the overall governance index, are presented in a range from zero (poorest achievement) to 1.0 (best achievement). The indices indicate that Fijis governance performance was very adversely affected by the coups of 1987 and 2000, with the Rule of Law dimension being the most adversely affected. The index constructed provides a basis from which to monitor future governance performance.

The Role of Institutions in the Development of Vietnam

The process of comprehensive economic reforms that commenced in 1986 has several lessons to offer for future policy-making in Vietnam. This article argues that institutional strengthening is critical for the future prosperity of the country. Several propositions from the New Institutional Economics (NIE) literature are corroborated by recent evidence from Vietnam to recommend policy settings necessary for continued economic development. The recommendations include the establishment of well-defined property rights, including a clear and enforceable system of contracts; strengthening the planning and administrative capacity of provincial offices; and, improvements in law enforcement. These institutional reforms must be given the highest priority if growth is to be revived and sustained over the medium to long term.

The Impact of the Asian Crisis on Australia's Primary Exports: Why it Wasn't so Bad

This article explores the modest impact of the Asian Crisis on Australia’s primary commodity exports. Simulations using a global general equilibrium model show: (i) as capital flees Asia, investment in Australia increases and the trade deficit grows; (ii) while terms of trade deteriorate in the short run, they improve in the medium run as import demand increases in the crisis countries; (iii) exports of primary commodities expand as the crisis countries try to export more; (iv) more income‐elastic primary commodities fare less well than the income‐inelastic foodstuffs as incomes decline in the crisis countries; (v) Australia’s relatively low dependence on manufactured exports was a buffer as manufactured exports came under heavy pressure from exports from the crisis countries.

Chapter 41 Food security and the world food situation

Abstract The major food projection agencies see per capita food supplies continuing to increase and real prices of foodstuffs continuing to decline. This trend in food prices has made, and will continue to make, achievement of food security possible for a greater proportion of the worlds population. Therefore, projections of an impending or even distant global imbalance between population and food supplies are seen as unfounded. The major problems in the food supply system are either man-made (bad policies) or can be corrected through institutional developments. In particular, increasing water supplies will be difficult and costly; but much can be done to make the use of existing supplies more efficient. Water is too often unpriced to farmers and other users; despite the political difficulties, this has to change. Establishing long-term, secure access to land for farmers is the most urgent need in many developing and transition countries and will make a significant contribution to their food security as well as to global self-sufficiency.

A Changing Global Food Market: Implications for China

Questions about the ability of the world to feed its growing human population become very topical from time to time. This usually happens following a sharp run-up in prices of major foodstuffs, principally grains, as happened after the sharp price increase in 1973–74. In recent years there has been a drumbeat of concern raised by those with mainly environmental worries about depletion and degradation of soils and water supplies. In recent years these anxieties have been reinforced by the publication of Lester Brown’s gloomy forecast of the consequences of food consumption and production in China and by the sharp increase in grain prices in the year to June 1996.