Comments

Thank you, Graham I'd echo others. I'm so glad you're recovering and still pushing us all to think hard about critical things and how to achieve them (in our own organisations, governments etc. and in the development assistance we provide). You may be whispering or writing but you have a loud and persuasive voice!

Been in and out of that office for quite awhile now. No ones interested in you and your wellbeing. We need action leaders to summonized the plight of every citizen of this country. God bless this nation!

The longer the delay, the economic suffers and it leads to more unnecessary loans by the country itself. PNG needs a man of action to progress with the project so that the economic stimulates. Far too long this project has been dragging along and nobody knows why. It's a God given blessings and should be validated as soon as possible otherwise in the long run and the persistent loans in the future, this whole nation will go to the dogs. Sialauo Ara leatiro! @ Mangi East West Kerema 👍🙏

There really needs to be a 1st year compulsory course that addresses issues that consider our culture but also look at ways we can progress as a nation. Such findings point to the deeply ingrained socio cultural systems and beliefs we have which we find our place from. Bringing students fresh from year 12 from all over the country to recognise this and identify for themselves such beliefs and to question whether that aspect of our beliefs is worth keeping or should be adapted and or changed with time should contribute to breaking this gender stereotypes.

Great piece Cam! You've touched on so many of the areas we're tracking and worried about. Please keep reporting on this.

A great article, challenging the Australian government's self-projection as "a saviour" of Tuvalu's people, when it's real interest is geographical control from a militaristic perspective. Not to mention that fact of Australia's continuing support of fossil fuel projects in its own economic interests.

A statement from the Minister Jimmy Maladina was, all should go well before the country's 51st independence.

When our parents believes in us, there is nothing on earth that can stop our progression. You story is very touching and inspirational. Heavenly Father sees the unseen efforts. All the best in your future journey. Thankyou so much.

Totally agree with this brilliant distillation of integrated issues and pathways fwd. Upticks all the way. Thank you Erin for this insightful article.

Dr Prasad - I will glady support an international, comprehensive study of how to stimulate return migration, with a small state focus. It should have a global reach, consider as many examples as posible from the Caribbean, Pacific, Indian, Mediterranean, West African and Middle East Regions. It should proceed with a standard template, including both quantitative statistics and qualitative arguments. 'Best practices' to be highlighted, where they exist. If we are looking at an eventual publication, there is a 'Small State Studies' seies with an international publisher, of which I am a series editor. I wonder if UNRISD can effectively lead such a study?

Professor Baldacchino, Thank you again for your engagement. I'm also glad that you are brining Malta and other countries in this conversation. I fully agree with you that return migration is conditional, and not emotional, people calculate risk. They ask: is there stability, justice, meritocracy, security? Is there something solid to return to? Without those foundations, the hope that migrants will come back enriched remains just that, a hope. For every returnee, there are many who settle permanently, especially when their skills are absorbed elsewhere. Remittances also declines over time. This is where my concern increases. Encouraging people to “drink the world” is wise, but only if the home system is strong enough to receive them. Otherwise, small states risk going into abyss. When your most capable teachers, nurses, engineers, and administrators are welcomed with open arms in larger economies, the capacity loss is not easily replenished. I am also concerned that much of the global migration–remittance literature generalises across contexts without sufficiently engaging the small-states scholarship, including MIRAB and, of course, your own work. Scale fundamentally changes the equation. What is manageable for Bangladesh or the Philippines can be disastrous for Tonga or Fiji. As you very well know, the political economy of microstates, the role of external rents, bureaucratic fragility, social cohesion, these are central issues. On your suggestion of a study: I think it is an excellent idea. The parameters of return migration in small states deserve rigorous analysis, especially how governance quality, institutional trust, wages, and political stability shape return decisions. I would be very happy to help stimulate such a conversation, including with colleagues at UNRISD. Or with donors in Australia/NZ.

Dear Khuram, Thank your kind words. In South Asia, where populations are large and labour supply abundant, migration and remittances have played a very different role. They have reduced poverty, supported families, and stabilised economies under pressure. My argument is not that remittances are “bad” or that migration is a failure. It is that context matters, especially size, scale, and institutional capacity. What works in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, or the Philippines does not automatically translate to small island states with tiny labour markets and fragile public systems. I am very grateful that you engaged with the piece in such an open way. These conversations are important precisely because they allow us to see the same phenomenon from different historical and demographic realities. Thank you again for reading it so carefully and for reflexion.