It was recognized by many developing countries in the 1980s that integration with the global economy is necessary for economic development and technological progress. Efforts to liberalize trade were controversial. A unique body of evidence on developing country trade liberalization will examine why outcomes have varied from one country to another. The political economy of trade liberalization and the interaction among trade and domestic reform, macro-economic stability, and export development is examined using: (a) cross-sectional data, (b) country studies, (c) and interviews. The sequencing of reforms and implications for multilateral trade negotiations, foreign direct investment, and regional integration schemes is an additional consideration. The emphasis is on practical problems-economic and political-and recommendations of how policies can be designed and implemented to yield stronger and more sustainable results.
Trade flows and trade policies need to be properly quantified to describe, compare, or follow the evolution of policies between sectors or countries or over time. This is essential to ensure that policy choices are made with an appropriate knowledge of the real conditions. This practical guide introduces the main techniques of trade and trade policy data analysis. It shows how to develop the main indexes used to analyze trade flows, tariff structures, and non-tariff measures. It presents the databases needed to construct these indexes as well as the challenges faced in collecting and processing these data, such as measurement errors or aggregation bias. Written by experts with practical experience in the field, A Practical Guide to Trade Policy Analysis has been developed to contribute to enhance developing countries' capacity to analyze and implement trade policy. It offers a hands-on introduction on how to estimate the distributional effects of trade policies on welfare, in particular on inequality and poverty. The guide is aimed at government experts engaged in trade negotiations, as well as students and researchers involved in trade-related study or research. An accompanying DVD contains data sets and program command files required for the exercises. Copublished by the WTO and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
. . . few if any other recent volumes offer a historical perspective on evolving trade policy in several countries, this well-written, well-edited volume. . . is suitable for graduate and research libraries. M. Larudee, Choice This book is a refreshing reminder of the benefits of unilateral trade liberalisation in countries whose leaders dare. An important story told with clarity and authority. Ross Garnaut, The Australian National University, Australia That trade liberalization is good for emerging market economies, and not just for the rich ones, is now widely accepted by both economists and policy-makers. But the question remains: how can these reforms be implemented in practice? The answer to that important question lies in understanding the political economy of each reforming country. This book makes a splendid contribution to our understanding of this issue by examining the experience of several countries. It is therefore an important book to be read by, not just students and researchers, but also policy-makers worldwide. Jagdish Bhagwati, Columbia University, US This timely book brings fresh analysis to the important issue of trade policy reform in emerging markets. The subject matter and its significance are comprehensively introduced with a review of developing country liberalization since the 1980s providing an analytical framework for the seven country case studies that follow. The case studies (Australia, Brazil, Chile, India, Malaysia, New Zealand, and South Africa) cover a wide variety of political, historical and economic issues, but all make clear the important role that crisis, or the threat of it, plays in meaningful trade policy reform. This is of particular relevance in the current global financial crisis. These studies, together with the conclusions which are drawn from them, show how important the trade liberalization agenda remains in the 21st century. Written by a combination of both experts and practitioners, this highly topical book will make productive reading for policy makers concerned with trade policy in developed and developing countries, as well as scholars working in trade policy. Postgraduate students studying international business, international relations, economics, politics, and international law should not be without this book.
While its treatment of the effects of policy changes on key economic indicators is academic, the literature on theory of trade policy reform "is motivated by concrete policy challenges ... and has informed policy." Kowalczyk (international economics, Tufts U.) introduces two types of reform (concertina and radial), the main policy and analytic issues, and how these 32 articles contribute to their understanding. Reprinted from economic journals and books from 1953-94, they address eight themes: early contributions to the theory of reform; welfare effects of tax and price changes; results of reform and national welfare; world welfare and trade reform; coalitions, welfare, and trade reform; quotas, tariffs, and reform; reform of government production and revenue; and reform in multi-household economies. Lacks a subject index. c. Book News Inc.
Trade reform programs have two main objectives. The first is to help raise economic growth and employment generation by improving resource allocation and economywide efficiency. The second is to help improve the balance of payments by strengthening the competitiveness of the external sector and expanding exports and efficient import substitutes. This paper evaluates developing country experience with trade policy reforms and makes recommendations for improving the design and implementaion of those reforms. It assesses the extent and effectiveness of the reforms under adjustment programs in the 1980s, highlighting practical problems and constraints, both economic and politcal. Broadly speaking, it considers three issues: (1) the potential conflicts between trade policy reforms and macroeconomic stabilization efforts; (2) the supply response to trade policy reforms, in the context of export prospects and domestic and external constraints; and (3) the sequencing, timing and duration of import reforms, their relation to internal reforms, and the associated transitional costs. The paper finds that trade policy reform, when implemented well, has contributed to improved economic performance in developing countries. The paper also finds that well-designed trade policy reforms do not conflict with other priorites except in special cases; usually they enhance growth.
From American master Ward Just, returning to his trademark territory of "Forgetfulness "and "The Weather in Berlin," an evocative portrait of diplomacy and desire set against the backdrop of America's first lost war
This book was written in the context of new and innovative policies for customs and tax administration reform. Eight chapters describe how measurement and various quantification techniques may be used to fight against corruption, improve cross-border celerity, boost revenue collection, and optimize the use of public resources. More than presenting “best practices” and due to the association of academics and practitioners, the case studies explore the conditions under which measurement has been introduced and the effects on the administrative structure, and its relations with the political authority and the users. By analyzing the introduction of measurement to counter corruption and improve revenue collection in Cameroon, two chapters describe to which extent the professional culture has changed and what effects have been noted or not on the public accountability of fiscal administrations. Two other chapters present experiments of uses of quantification to develop risk analysis in Cameroon and Senegal. By using mirror analysis on the one hand and data mining on the other hand, these two examples highlight the importance of automated customs clearance systems which collect daily extensive data on users, commodities flows and officials. One chapter develops the idea of measuring smuggling to improve the use of human and material resources in Algeria and nurture the questioning on the adaptation of a legal framework to the social context of populations living near borders. Finally, two examples of measurement policies, in France and in South Korea, enlighten the diversity of measurement, the specificities of developing countries and the convergences between developing and developed countries on common stakes such as trade facilitation and better use of public funds.
According to the authors, challenges resulting from the globalization of production and the integration of former socialist economies into the world market economy create the need for new trade negotiations at both the regional and global level. Government policies and regulations that constitute barriers to foreign trade and investment still need to be overcome. Anticompetitive practices such as trade-restricting cartels need to be eliminated. Philosophical and political differences over how trade agreements should deal with issues such as labor and the environment need to be resolved. The book provides a comprehensive review of the issues confronting U.S. trade policymakers and outlines a strategy to deal with them. The book is essential reading for public officials, business leaders and private citizens who wish to think broadly about American's role in the global economy of the 21st century.
This conference proceedings presents national experiences of regulatory reform and trade in order to foster consensus-building on best practices. Such practices include enhanced transparency, non-discriminatory due process, independence of regulators and active implementation of competition policy.
