Some socio-economic problems of development planning in Malta

Abstract

In the late 50's and early 60's Malta's chief economic goal was to diversify its economy through an expansion in the agricultural sector, tourism and the manufacturing industry. But this was not an easy task. Prominent among the problems of diversification were those processes of adjustment accompanying the transition from a traditional and colonized country to a modern set-up comprising new norms and values. Lack of natural and human resources hindered the course of economic visibility. The following extracts, drawn out from the Development Plans of Malta, illustrates some of the socio-economic problems which may have impeded the trend towards economic independence.