Economics of Corsican Independence

Keywords: Corsica, economics, nationalism
Abstract Type: Poster Abstract

Abstract

Corsican nationalism has gained significant momentum over the last 20 years. Today a majority of Corsicans support devolution from the French core and greater political and economic autonomy for the island. It is therefore prudent to consider what an independent or quasi-independent Corsican political economy might look like. While preliminary answers may be gleaned from an analysis of the island's present economic activity, including its thriving agricultural and tourism sectors and its human and natural resources, this paper considers how Corsica's existing financial and corporate institutions compare to those of other European island nations. Cyprus and the Isle of Man are two states that have intentionally leveraged discreet banking services and vast corporate rights regimes to become global hubs for international investment. A series of principal components analysis isolates each country’s comparative economic advantages, while a content analysis of Corsican public discourse and banking legislation begins to address whether the surge in Corsican national identity is compatible with a trajectory of nation-building through liberal economic integration.