Why are government services important to Guadeloupe’s economy?

Government services are central to the economy of Guadeloupe, serving as the largest single source of employment and making the greatest contribution to the island's gross domestic product.1

The economy is primarily sustained by the salaries of officials and by financial aid from France in the form of grants and allocations. This reliance on the public sector, which includes public administration, education, and health and social services, helps maintain a standard of living that is among the highest in the eastern Caribbean.21