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prospects of their respective de facto regions 4 . Despite the economie irregularity in
choosing such an approach, in historical terms the choice is far less asymmetrical.
The theory analysed below, argues that much of the displaced rural population from
the north was absorbed by the construction industry in the south. Gonversely, much
of the population displaced to the north were initially resettled in the areas vacated
by new entrants in the construction and manufacturing industries in the urban
sector. It does not stretch imagination too far to conceive the transfer of population
at two levels, geographical and to a lesser extent sectorally. In this sense Turkish-
Cypriots were again constrained economically by politicai objectives, whilst
displaced Greek-Cypriots were effectively urbanised, the population under Turkish-
Cypriot control became more rural.
This chapter also allows for a fuller exploration of a major inspiration for this
thesis. In re-appraising the economic role of refugees, Roger Zetter has argued that
war and de facto division have made a positive contribution to economic growth in
Cyprus 5 . Whilst initially attempting to disprove his work, this thesis may end up
supporting it (see Chapter 6). However, whether it was a Government led recovery
in the south, through the medium of the construction industry, as Zetter proposes,
forms the basis for half of the analysis below.
4 "Within the framework of its efforts to achieve the réactivation of the economy in the three areas of
the island, the Government gave special emphasis to the construction sector, because this sector,
apart from its contribution to investment and employaient, effects both directly and indirectly many
other sectors of the economy. " Republic of Cyprus. Second Emergencv Economic Action Pian 1977-
1978. Nicosia: Planning Bureau, p.101.
And "The economy of the Turkish Federated State of Cyprus is largely dépendent on
agriculture...The agricultural sector as in GDP has the iargest share of exports." "Turkish Federated
State ofKibris" 1979. The First Five Year Development Plan (1978-1982 ì. Nicosia. "State"
Planning Organisation, p. 5. By 1987 things had changed little: "Historically, North Cyprus has been
predominantly an agricultural country. Today, this tradition continues. The North is in fact primarily
rural, and some three quarters of its area is used for agriculture, the return from which contributes
about a quarter of the national income and over a third of the country's exports. More than a half of
the [north of the] island's [sic] labour force is employed in agriculture." Rustem K. (ed.) 1987.
North Cyprus Almanac. London: Rustem K. & Bro., p. 83. See also: Morvaridi, B. "Agriculture
and the Environment", inDodd, C.H. (ed.) 1993. The Politicai Social and Economic Development
ofNortfaernCvpnis. Huntingdon: EothenPress, p. 235.
Zetter R. 1992 "Refugees and Forced Migration as Development Resources", Cyprus Review,
Vol.4, No.l, pp.7-39.
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