Understanding regional inequalities in small countries

This paper revisits the commonly held view that small countries do not exhibit significant regional disparities. The issue is framed as one in which the attributes of small size (land area, population and the magnitude of the economy) are mediated by a series of spatial and non-spatial factors such as distance, density, factor mobility, natural resources, land supply, social cohesion and governance structure. Given the existence of these mediators, the magnitude of regional disparities in small countries is not as surprising as it may seem at first glance.