Plans, policies and strategies of the Maltese governments : 1960-1990

Abstract

This paper attempts to provide an overview of the approach used to foster growth and development in Malta, for a period of thirty years, covering from 1960 to 1990. This study is conducted through an intensive survey of the Maltese development plans. The opening chapter focuses on the economic theory of planning, analyses the rationale for economic planning, the problems associated with economic planning in small island states, and provides a brief comparison of development planning with short-term economic management. This chapter concludes with a series of events that led Malta to set up the first development plan. Chapter 2 concentrates on plans, policies and strategies pursued to attain the main targets of the local governments. The aim of this chapter is to give an overall view of the change that came about in the means of achieving the targets. An assessment of actual achievements in employment is examined over the thirty year period in Chapter 3. The concluding chapter gives an overall view of the whole paper and focuses on future policy-making.