Gideon Rachman on the advantages of being a small country

Columnist Gideon Rachman points out how small countries are often better off. "It is true that a unilateral declaration of Kosovan independence could cause a new crisis in the Balkans. But if the formation of new countries can be achieved peacefully, it is usually a cause for celebration. This is the age of the small state. Look at almost any league table of national welfare and small countries dominate. ... Of the five most populous countries in the world, only the US is rich. Brazil, China, India and Indonesia are growing fast, but they still rank as developing nations. Governing them presents awesome challenges. ... Above all, small countries tend to be more homogenous. This makes them less prone to civil strife or dictatorship. It also means higher levels of social trust – which may be why small Scandinavian states are willing to spend so much on health and education and fare so well on human development indices."

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