On The Evolution of Tropical Islands Economies in Modern Times

Over several centuries the characteristic features of the economies of tropical islands were similar and unchanged. On almost all islands, independently of their genetic type, farming and fishing predominated, sprinkled with inter-island trade. With the European expansion, economies of the islands underwent transformations. The development of transportation and communication contributed to the increased accessibility of islands and to their inclusion into world economy. This phenomenon progressed particularly fast in the second half of the 20^th century, when already independent island states often searched for capital necessary for their sovereign existence. Numerous unconventional solutions were proposed, but it was tourism that achieved the greatest triumphs, gradually beginning to dominate in the economy of islands of almost all types.