Economic Development in the World's Smallest Economies

This book examines three fundamental factors that influence the economic growth and development of the world's 93 smallest economies, which together produced 1% of global GDP. The objective of the study is to ascertain whether the countries analysed possess the requisite environmental resources, human capital, and cultural conducive to economic development, and whether they effectively utilize their resources. Consequently, the location and elements of physical geography are analyzed, including climate, soils, landforms and geological structure from the perspective of mineral resources abundance as well as marine and inland water from the perspective of water resource abundance. The changes in population from 1970 to 2019 are studied and the factors determining them, which are natural increase and migration. Finally, the demographic structure are examined. The analysis of cultures, including religions and languages, is undertaken to identify cultural factors that either support or hinder economic growth and development. This book is designed for students and researchers engaged in the study of economic geography, geography, demography, and macroeconomics. It serves as a valuable resource for international organizations engaged in the analysis of countries across the globe. Dr. Aneta A. Teperek, a researcher and entrepreneur, pursues two parallel paths: academia and business. She is a postdoctoral graduate of the Polytechnic University of Leiria in Portugal and holds a PhD in Economics from the Warsaw School of Economics in Poland. Over the past eight years, she has researched the economic, social, political, historical, and geographical aspects of the world's 93 smallest economies, which collectively produced 1% of global GDP. She has authored three books on the subject. As an entrepreneur, she has founded and led several successful start-ups in IT consulting, real estate development, and international trade. To enhance her business skills, she completed executive business programs at the Wharton School, Harvard Business School, and Copenhagen Business School. She also founded the International Institute for Arabian Gulf Business, a research center that bridges the worlds of science and business. She is an active member of numerous professional associations in Europe and North America, including the National Postdoctoral Association, the American Association of Geographers, the International Consortium of Research Staff Associations, and the Consulting Society.