Macau has the advantage of being an entry point to the huge China market, although its economic development has been held back by its small territory, small population,
Communications | ||||||||
Country | Telephones a | Telephones, Mobile/Cellular a | Radio Stations b | Radios a | TV Stations a | Televisions a | Internet Service Providers c | Internet Users c |
Macau | 176,837 (2000) | 120,957 (2000) | AM 0; FM 2; shortwave 0 | 160,000 | 0 | 49,000 | 1 | 40,000 |
United States | 194 M | 69.209 M (1998) | AM 4,762; FM 5,542; shortwave 18 | 575 M | 1,500 | 219 M | 7,800 | 148 M |
China | 135 M (2000) | 65 M (2001) | AM 369; FM 259; shortwave 45 | 417 M | 3,240 | 400 M | 3 | 22 M (2001) |
Hong Kong | 3.839 M (1999) | 3.7 M (1999) | AM 7; FM 13; shortwave 0 | 4.45 M | 4 | 1.84 M | 17 | 1.85 M |
a Data is for 1997 unless otherwise noted. | ||||||||
b Data is for 1998 unless otherwise noted. | ||||||||
c Data is for 2000 unless otherwise noted. | ||||||||
SOURCE: CIA World Factbook 2001 [Online]. |
and extremely limited natural resources, as well as competition from neighboring Hong Kong. The policy of encouraging private entrepreneurship, giving priority to the development of export-oriented sectors and capital intensive industries—combined with a relatively cheap labor force —has contributed to the rise of Macau's prosperity. By 2000, manufacturing (textiles, clothing, toys, and electronics), gambling, and tourism became the largest sectors of Macau's economy.
The 1997 Asian financial crisis contributed to the slowing of economic growth in all sectors of the economy, although Macau managed to avoid an economic decline
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