Fiji's emigrant transfers and potential macroeconomic effects

This article examines the magnitude of emigrant transfers from Fiji and their potential macroeconomic effects in Fiji. Since the first political crisis in 1987, some US$517 million has left Fiji in the form of emigrant transfers; including around US$40 million per annum between 1987 and 1999. On average, this represents almost 25 per cent of Fiji's gross fixed capital formation, 18 per cent of its savings, and just over 2 per cent of GDP. Some policy implications of these transfers are drawn.