Measuring Regional Progress for a Blue Economy

Abstract

Why are Pacific economies smaller than those of other nations? The standard answer to this question highlights the unique vulnerabilities and dependencies of the region, such as size, distance from markets, and climate and disaster vulnerabilities. But what if these barriers were actually the source of Pacific equity? What if there existed an opportunity to treat them as benefits that could be accounted for in our national economies? And what does this have to do with oceans governance in the Pacific? This In Brief examines the options for accounting for the Pacific’s unique ecological assets more fully, thereby reassessing the value of Pacific economies. Show more