ÉCONOMIES INSULAIRES ET TRAJECTOIRES DE DÉVELOPPEMENT - UNE COMPARAISON ENTRE MAURICE ET LA RÉUNION

The economic development of small islands may follow different pathways, according to the particular combination of growth mechanisms. A comparative study of long term growth in Mauritius and Reunion, two islands with strong historical, sociological and cultural links, shows that they are engaged in two different processes of industrialization. Reunion has focused on its local market and a demand-oriented development related to the "administration rent". Mauritius, on the other hand, has preferred a supplyoriented model, based on opening to international competition. Nevertheless, both economies faced structural problems in the late nineties, when the industrialization dynamics faded away in Mauritius and almost came to an end in Reunion.