La contribution de la substitution d'importation à la croissance dans les Dom-Tom (1971-1989)

Abstract

This paper studies the economic growth of the french overseas departments and territories from 1971 to 1992. It appears that the GNP growth was due almost only to domestic absorption, fuelled by a rapid increase of public transfers from metropolitan France. Import substitution has had negative or nul effects on growth in most cases, and small positive effects in one case (French Polynesia). Exports have had very small effects on growth, except for New Caledonia, due to Nickel exports. Since the french overseas departments and territories have consistently lowed import substitution policies (that is, protectionist policies to promote local production of imported goods), it appears that this development strategy has failed to bring about self-sustained economic growth.