The Oxford Handbook of the Mauritian Economy

The Oxford Handbook on the Mauritian Economy presents a comprehensive analysis of the economic, social, and political landscape of the island, offering a nuanced exploration of its historical evolution, current challenges, and future prospects.

Adopting a multidisciplinary lens, the handbook delves into the complexities of the Mauritian economy, addressing the development pathway of the country through a focus on the process of structural transformation, namely the transition from an agrarian-based economy to a diversified one, across sectors like manufacturing, information and communication technology, tourism, and financial services, amongst others. It analyzes the process of economic transformations while encompassing social change and social policies, with particular attention to key issues of inequality, education, health care, social protection, poverty alleviation, and social inclusion, and it delves further into the dynamics of cultural change, demographic shifts, and the role of policies in shaping the social fabric of the island.

Amid the perceived success of the Mauritian economy, this handbook confronts the challenges that the island faces in terms of the complexities of globalization, disparities in income and opportunities, and climate change as well as other recent crises that affect its resilience to external shocks. It contributes not only to wider scholarly debates on economic development but also presents a valuable resource for policymakers and practitioners seeking an in-depth understanding of the economic and policy intricacies that define Mauritius’ transformative development trajectory.

Carlos Oya is Professor of Political Economy of Development at SOAS, University of London, and a development economist by training. His work is published in several highly ranked journals in the development studies field, and he has recently led a project on structural transformations and employment outcomes in infrastructure construction and manufacturing sectors in Ethiopia and Angola, with a special focus on Chinese firms.

Ramola Ramtohul is Associate Professor in Gender Studies and Sociology at the University of Mauritius. She has a PhD in Gender Studies from the African Gender Institute at the University of Cape Town, and she has published widely on women, gender and politics in Mauritius, intersectionality, diversity, and citizenship. She has received research fellowships from the University of Cape Town, American Association of University Women, University of Cambridge, and University of Pretoria. She is co-editor of the Journal of Contemporary African Studies and the Island Studies Journal and is a member of the editorial board of the journal Small States & Territories.

Verena Tandrayen-Ragoobur is Associate Professor in Economics, University of Mauritius. She is currently heading the Pole of Research Excellence in Applied Social and Economic Research Analysis and is the co-chair of the WTO Chairs Programme at the University of Mauritius. She has more than 40 publications in international peer reviewed journals and books, and she is involved in a number of consultancy and research projects with Ministries, public institutions, and international organisations.