Introduction: In 1974, ethnic differences within the British colony of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands caused the Polynesians of the Ellice Islands to vote for separation from the Micronesians of the Gilbert Islands. The following year, the Ellice Islands became the separate British colony of Tuvalu. Independence was granted in 1978. In 2000, Tuvalu negotiated a contract leasing its Internet domain name ".tv" for $50 million in royalties over a 12-year...

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Economic Overview: The economy of Tuvalu is vulnerable to external influences, including the weather. Most of Tuvalu's population is involved in subsistence fishing and agriculture. Remittances from seamen working on overseas vessels are a significant source of income for many families. The money economy is dominated by government activity. Fishing licences and marketing of its internet domain name '.tv' contribute to government revenue.

The Tuvalu Trust Fund

In 1987, the Tuvalu Government established a publicly owned investment fund to provide a safety net against fluctuations in government income. The earnings of the ...

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