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.

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 annual national human capital loss from stroke mortality is an important dimension in the overall economic equation of total economic burden of stroke. Conclusion. This study demonstrates a high economic burden for Fiji from stroke mortality of young adults in terms of annual national human capital loss.

In an increasingly competitive market, the corporate sectors in small developing countries are adopting a number of strategies to deal with raising efficiency and productivity. One such strategy is consolidation, that is, mergers and acquisitions. One of the primary motive to undertake a merger is to gain the synergy that would accrue from more efficient management, economies of scale and scope, removal of duplication of resources, utilization of resources to their full potential, and improved production techniques. This study examines the basis of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and utilizing two recent cases of M & A applications, provides a theoretical and practical basis to decide on whether mergers and acquisitions will be allowed or not. In doing so, we demonstrate the process and methodologies utilized to assess and examine an M & A application. The first case involves a conglomerate merger in the beverage industry while the other involves an acquisition in the same industry. In both the cases, the M & A application was cleared. In the first case, the merger involved two different kinds of beverage activity -alcoholic and soft drinks beverage hence there was no effect on the market share of the individual products. In the second case, while the acquisition was in the same industry, a detailed financial analysis of the acquired firm reveals that it is a "failing firm", and therefore, in the public interest, the acquisition needs to be cleared.

PurposeEducation is highly regarded as having a central influence on individuals' understanding and backing of democracy, but whether this occurs in young and small democratic states remain unknown. The purpose of this paper is to examine whether schooling and education have a positive impact on an individual's democratic values in Fiji, whose democratic system has been subject to three coups since independence in 1970.Design/methodology/approachTo achieve the goal of this paper, the ordered probit probability model is used. The ordered probit model serves as a better framework for statistical analysis whenever field survey responses are ordinal as distinct from numerical.FindingsThe results from an ordered probit model reveal that the education level does not affect an individual's democratic values. However, it is found that gender, age, and ethnicity do have an influence on individuals' endorsement of democracy.Practical implicationsDemocracy has more than once proved to be an elusive dream in Fiji. This paper aims to provide the answer whether education can be the facilitating factor in transition towards a more democratic state.Originality/valueThis is the first study which comprehensively explores whether schooling and education has a positive impact on an individual's democratic values in Fiji.

No abstract