Trade Liberalisation

This book provides a thorough and rigorous discussion on the impact of trade liberalisation on economic development with a special focus on the African continent. The author presents the rationale for trade liberalisation, trade liberalisation frameworks, the trade liberalisation economic development nexus, impediments to trade, and contemporary issues of international trade. In this book, notwithstanding the benefits from trade liberalisation, the author shows that African trade as a share of global trade has remained flat at 3% as in 1975, while the continent’s exports have remained raw materials and its intra-regional trade at less than 15% of total trade, which is the lowest in the world (UNCTAD, 2020). With respect to key economic development indicators such as economic growth, poverty levels, and employment levels, this book shows that, ironically and in direct contrast with the conventional views that trade liberalisation alleviates poverty, trade liberalisation in Africa has resulted in high levels of unemployment and low economic growth which ultimately lead to increased poverty. In addition, this book provides a detailed analysis of why trade liberalisation has failed to yield meaningful benefits to Africa. The binding constraints and blockages which prevent positive spin-offs on trade liberalisation in Africa are discussed in detail in this book. In the same vein, the author provides practical strategies which must be adopted by African countries in order to gain from trade liberalisation, making this work a must-read for African governments, academia, trade experts, regional trading blocs, the World Trade Organization, and development partners. In view of this, and as part of the disruptive and structural transformation policies, the author discusses case studies and international experience contextualised to Africa as well as strategies for addressing the trade-related infrastructure gap, production capacities, export promotion, and aid for trade.

This is a meticulously researched and well written book on a subject of immense contemporary academic and policy interest. Prema-chandra Athukorala, Journal of Development Studies The book is a valuable contribution to the analysis of the links between trade liberalisation, poverty and inequality . . . The book is a coherent piece of work offering an abundance of well-researched and argued information, effectively establishing it as a notable contribution to the investigation and understanding of this very important field. Therefore this book is highly recommended as an important publication for everyone interested in this field as it is a powerful guide to the complex questions that emerge when dealing with the issues of trade liberalisation and poverty elimination at international level. Marios Koutsias, International Trade Law and Regulation Thirlwall and Pacheco-López s book makes its contribution by serving as a clearly written synthesis of a diversity of literatures on trade liberalization and its impacts on growth, inequality and wages, and poverty. . . . the book is an excellent one. It should be a required reading companion to any graduate-level trade course. Kevin P. Gallagher, Journal of Human Development and Capabilities This book breaks out of the standard distinction between free trade and protectionism , and shows how to think constructively about trade policy as an instrument of national economic strategy. It is highly recommended for those who wish to think beyond orthodoxy, and especially for those in developing countries who wish to influence negotiations with developed countries and western-based international organisations. Robert Wade, London School of Economics, UK This is a gem of a book. Based on deep understanding of diverse economic theories and empirical evidence, it offers us a succinct but highly informative overview of the controversies surrounding the impact of trade policy on growth, inequality, and macroeconomics. Ha-Joon Chang, University of Cambridge, UK, and author of Kicking Away the Ladder, and Bad Samaritans Free-trade fundamentalism is gradually making way for a more nuanced and historically well-informed understanding of the role that trade policy plays in economic development. Thirlwall and Pacheco-López provide an excellent review of the relevant literature as well as a sophisticated critique of the earlier, simplistic views. As they explain, it is the details the timing, sequencing, and context that determine whether liberalization will succeed. Dani Rodrik, Harvard University, US This book will infuriate the free trade ultras who believe that liberalisation is the answer to every problem and a good thing too. The real world, as Thirlwall and Pacheco-López show clearly and vividly, is different from the world of theoretical models so beloved by today s economic orthodoxy, and they take delight in tweaking the noses of the Washington consensus. History suggests they are right to argue that managed trade is better for developing countries than swallowing large doses of free-trade medicine. Larry Elliott, The Guardian Orthodox trade and growth theory, and the world s multilateral development institutions, extol the virtues of trade liberalisation and free trade for more rapid economic development of poor countries. However, the contemporary reality and history seem to tell a different story. The world economy has experienced an unprecedented period of trade liberalisation in the last thirty years, and yet international and global inequality is widening; domestic poverty (outside of China) is increasing; poor countries exports have grown more slowly than their imports leading to balance of payments crises, and the so-called globalising economies of the world (excluding China and India) have fared no better, and in some cases worse, than those countries that have not liberalised so extensively. This book argues that orthodox theory is based on many unreal assumptions,

This study is the first effort to document the extent of NAFTA's impact on higher education. Through case studies, the authors analyze higher education policy in Canada, Mexico, and the USA using a common theoretical framework that identifies economic globalization, international trade liberalization, and post-industrialization as common structural factors exerting a significant influence on higher education in the three countries.

This book provides research on the global policies, benefits and economic risks of trade liberalization. The purpose of the first chapter is to examine the role of agricultural trade in promoting global food security. The second chapter discusses corporate social responsibility, trade liberalization and global welfare. Chapter three sheds light on the role of the state in determining international competitiveness of agricultural commodities and the pattern of agricultural trade. The final chapter of this book studies the impact of trade liberalization on the Australian manufacturing sector.

This book makes an intensive review of the literature on trade liberalisation and its impacts on growth and distribution in developing countries. Moreover, the authors scrutinise some controversial national initiatives that are gradually fragmenting the international economic field. The urgent need that multilateral institutions have to push trade higher up in the list of the political priorities is emphasised. In addition, the biggest producers and exporters of agricultural products have been adopting the genetic engineering in order to improve the factors productivity and the firms profits. The authors examine the potential motivations behind the different policies on GM products adopted by US and EU. Additionally, the welfare effect of bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) in a vertical trade structure is investigated in this book. A three-country model is considered with one country exporting intermediate good and two countries exporting final good. Other chapters explore the major theories of international trade from antiquity up to the neo-classical economics in the latter part of the nineteenth century. Effective trade policies for developed countries today are also discussed, as well as international trade, both exports and imports, in countries such as India and China. It is the authors contention that these two countries pose particular challenges and offer particular opportunities in the evolving trade-development nexuses.

This is one of few books on the quantitative assessment of trade liberalisation and its impact on micro and macro economics structure in developing countries. Addressing the prospects of economic growth at a macro level, gives a thorough analysis of various issues such as profitability of enterprises after liberalisation, structural change, imports and exports by sectors and regions, and the trade balances of developing countries. The aspects of terms of trade and the trade balances in African, Latin American and Asian economies are studied using econometric techniques.

This compelling two-volume collection presents the major literary contributions to the economic analysis of the consequences of trade liberalization on growth, productivity, labor market outcomes and economic inequality. Examining the classical theories that stress gains from trade stemming from comparative advantage, the selection also comprises more recent theories of imperfect competition, where any potential gains from trade can stem from competitive effects or the international transmission of knowledge. Empirical contributions provide evidence regarding the explanatory power of these various theories, including work on the effects of trade openness on economic growth, wages, and income inequality, as well as evidence on the effects of trade on firm productivity, entry and exit. Prefaced by an original introduction from the editor, the collection will to be an invaluable research resource for academics, practitioners and those drawn to this fascinating topic.

Experts from a range of backgrounds around the world provide perspectives on the significance and likely impact of the agreement, and in particular its implications for national regulatory autonomy. The chapters cover cross-cutting issues such as devel