International Political Economy

Author(s):  
David A. Lake

This article provides an overview of international political economy (IPE) and an outline of the early origins of the field. It discusses one of the first comprehensive statements regarding the Open Economy Politics (OEP) approach, which adopts the assumptions of neoclassical economics and international trade theory. The article ends with a short discussion of possible areas for future research.

Author(s):  
Darel E. Paul

Liberal international political economy (IPE) is the offspring of a marriage between mainstream international economics with its focus on markets and mainstream international relations with its emphasis on the state. While clearly involving the traditional disciplines of economics and political science, liberal scholarship in IPE tends to be housed almost exclusively in the latter. Liberal IPE has always maintained a special relationship with its absentee father economics, looking to it particularly as a source of theoretical and especially methodological inspiration. In its earlier phase, the “American school” of IPE, also known by its practitioners as Open Economy Politics (OEP), was strongly oriented toward studying the societal determinants of state trade policy and indeed continues to expand upon this terrain. OEP has moved into many diverse areas since then. Having roots in both neoclassical economics and realist international relations theory, OEP has a strong tendency to limit its empirical interest to observable behavior, define interest in strictly material terms, and assume the psychology of decision-making to be rational and therefore unproblematic. Unsurprisingly, OEP has little room for ideas as interesting and important objects of study, and in turn some of the early pioneers of the liberal approach in IPE have lamented its becoming “too materialistic.”


2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daron O Djerdjian

Abstract Does more wealth inequality lead to more inequitable trade policies? To answer this question, this study develops a political economy model of international trade theory and predicts that in a pro-worker regime, an increase in wealth inequality leads to more equitable trade policies. In a pro-capitalist regime, an increase in wealth inequality leads to more inequitable trade policies. Using cross-country data on political ideology, wealth inequality and different measures of trade policies, this paper finds empirical support for these predictions.


Author(s):  
Leslie Johns

This chapter examines how scholars use formal models to study International Political Economy (IPE). This small, but important, body of research revolves around three substantive research questions. First, scholars have asked: how do states promote international trade by reducing tariffs and non-tariff barriers? Second, they ask: how do states encourage foreign investment by making binding pledges to protect foreign investors? Finally, scholars have studied: how do states stabilize and grow their economies? For each of these topics, the chapter looks back at past findings from formal models. It then discusses how IPE scholars can profitably move forward in their future research on these important topics.


2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (5) ◽  
pp. 48-65
Author(s):  
ONYSHCHENKO Volodymyr

Background. Dynamic changes in international economic relations and trade for thorough analysis and forecasting require an adequate paradigm of international trade theory, which would take into account not only economic and political factors of its development, but also the diverse civilizational context of the world community, which determines mental, social and cultural features of the development of a country. Problem research state. Problems of political economy in international trade to some extent affect the research of P. Krugman, M. Obstfeld, J. Frieden, E. Helpman, P. S. Afontsev, A. Mazaraki, T. Melnyk, V. Panchenko, N. Reznikova and others. But the structure of its methodological discourse and the subject of its research remain unclear. The aim of the articleis to clarify the political and economic discourse of the theory of international trade. Materials and methods. The materials of the research were the works of domestic and foreign specialists. In the process of preparing the article, general scientific research methods were used: historical, logical analysis, synthesis and abstraction. Results. Political economy is a normative manifestation of economic theory, which is formed under the influence of socio-economic and political concepts, the formed goals of social development. The subject of political economy of international trade – economic and socio-political relations that determine and accompany international trade and determine the goals and content of trade policy of its subjects. It is proposed to expand the mechanism of formation of relative advantages and trade policy of the country by including factors that determine not only its economic potential and specialization, but also the risks that may be caused by political decisions. It is argued that the problem of «protectionism vs liberalism» in international trade at the state level will always exist. It turns out that the problem of justice in international economic relations and trade is determined by the civilizational content of the development of countries, in which human capital plays a crucial role. Conclusion. The paradigm of political economy in international trade should be based on an expanded interpretation of relative benefits by assessing the impact of economic, social and political institutionson them, the peculiarities of national trade policies.


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