These results are not surprising given the substantial socio-economic advantages associated with political affiliation. The extent and impact of these territorial advantages are clear from recently published research with Professor Klaus de Albuquerque of the College of Charleston. For example, both average and per capita GDP and electricity production are three times higher for the dependencies than for their sovereign counterparts. Average annual GDP growth since the mid-1980s has been roughly twice as fast. The same contrast emerges from the social quality of life measures.
Territorial affiliation seems to provide educational benefits as well.
It is small wonder, then, that the process of decolonisation has stalled at the steps of the small-island Caribbean. The DTs relative affluence and superior socio-economic performance, however, rest on fragile footing. The dependencies are significantly smaller than their sovereign neighbors. They average less than one tenth the population and land area of the latter and are thus assumed to be more potentially vulnerable to hurricanes and other natural disasters. The DTs also possess much fewer exploitable resources and much less diversified economies than the autonomous islands.