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Defining the category of 'small' states

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  • Tom Crowards

    (Caribbean Development Bank, Barbados)

Abstract

There is no widely accepted definition of a small state. Most previous definitions have been based upon arbitrarily chosen cut-off values of selected criteria. The present study attempts to categorize the size of 190 states according to population, land area and total income. An initial categorization is based upon observation of each series to identify discontinuities in the distributions. Cluster analysis is then employed to identify groups of countries that share similar size-related characteristics. A classification based on non-hierarchical cluster analysis is proposed, generating four clusters from equally spaced initial cluster-centres. On this basis, 79 countries are classified as 'small'. The reasons for deviation from recent categorizations of small countries are explored, the primary cause being the inclusion of some countries with very low levels of income. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Suggested Citation

  • Tom Crowards, 2002. "Defining the category of 'small' states," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 14(2), pages 143-179.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:jintdv:v:14:y:2002:i:2:p:143-179
    DOI: 10.1002/jid.860
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Brito, João Antonio, 2015. "Social Cohesion and Economic Growth: Small States vs Large States," MPRA Paper 66118, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Brito, João Antonio, 2015. "Defining Country Size: A Descriptive Analysis of Small and Large States," MPRA Paper 66149, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Craigwell, Roland C & Thomas, Chrystal, 2010. "Revisiting the effect of country size on taxation in developing countries," MPRA Paper 33470, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Brito, João Antonio, 2015. "Environmental Vulnerability and Economic Growth: Small States vs Large States," MPRA Paper 65694, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Gomes, Charmaine, 2014. "The case of Small Island Developing States of the Caribbean: the challenge of building resilience," Sede Subregional de la CEPAL para el Caribe (Estudios e Investigaciones) 38366, Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL).
    8. Rahman, Muhammad Habibur, 2018. "Earthquakes don’t kill, built environment does: Evidence from cross-country data," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 458-468.
    9. Bouchra Fninou & François Meyssonnier, 2013. "Un système de pilotage de la performance publique à dominante managériale : analyse de l'expérience de Dubaï," Working Papers hal-00781973, HAL.
    10. M. A. Volodina, 2018. "International Economic Strategy of Small African Countries in a Globalizing World," Outlines of global transformations: politics, economics, law, Center for Crisis Society Studies, vol. 11(5).

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