Multilateral trade liberalization and developing countries’ economic exposure to shocks

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 496-515 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sena Kimm Gnangnon

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of multilateral trade policy (MTP) liberalization on developing countries’ economic exposure to shocks. Design/methodology/approach The analysis is conducted on a panel data set comprising 120 countries over the period 1996–2013 and uses the within fixed effects estimator. Findings The empirical results suggest that over the entire sample as well as sub-samples of least developed countries (LDCs) and non-LDCs, multilateral trade liberalization have a negative and significant impact on economic exposure to shocks. Interestingly, LDCs appear to experience the highest magnitude of the reducing impact of multilateral trade liberalization on countries’ economic exposure to shocks. Research limitations/implications These findings suggest that a greater cooperation among countries in the world, including among WTO members to further liberalize trade would surely contribute to reducing developing countries’ economic exposure to shocks. Practical implications The current study shows that the current backlash against trade and the consequent strong appeal for domestic trade protectionist measures would likely to undermine the likelihood of further multilateral trade liberalization. One implication of this could be a rise in countries’ economic exposure to shocks. Originality/value To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is first the study on this matter.

2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sena Kimm Gnangnon

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate how trade openness affects the structural vulnerability of developing countries. The analysis is conducted on both the entire sample of 105 countries as well as two sub-samples, namely least developed countries (LDCs) and non-LDCs. Design/methodology/approach – To perform the analysis, the author employs fixed-effects (within) regressions supplemented by instrumental variables technique based on the two-step generalized methods of moments approach. Findings – The author finds empirical evidence that although trade policy liberalization reduces the structural vulnerability on the entire sample developing countries, no statistically significant effect of such liberalization is obtained either on LDCs or non-LDCs. However, trade policy liberalization appears to reduce countries’ exposure to shocks, result that applies to the entire sample as well as the two sub-samples. The author also observes that trade policy liberalization exerts no (statistically) significant effect on the size of shocks that affect developing countries, result that applies to both the full sample and the sub-samples of LDCs and non-LDCs. Research limitations/implications – In the absence of a well-established theoretical framework on how trade openness affects the structural vulnerability of developing, the author adopts a pragmatic approach by drawing upon many insights of Loayza and Raddatz (2007) who study the structural determinants of external vulnerability. Practical implications – Developing countries in general and LDCs in particular could address their structural weaknesses by making optimal use of their trade policies. In particular, they could better use the flexibilities available to them in provisions of the World Trade Organization (WTO)’ Agreements. In this respect, the international community, notably donors of the developed world has a key role to play. Originality/value – This is the first study exploring how trade openness, capturing here through trade policy liberalization affects the structural vulnerability of developing countries.


2006 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 225-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BUREAU ◽  
SÉBASTIEN JEAN ◽  
ALAN MATTHEWS

Recent analyses suggest that the impact of agricultural trade liberalization on developing countries will be very uneven. The Doha Round focuses on tariff issues, but some developing countries currently have practically duty-free access to European and North American markets under preferential regimes. Multilateral liberalization will erode the benefits of these preferences, which are presently rather well utilized in the agricultural sector. While South American and East Asian countries should benefit from an agricultural agreement, African and Caribbean countries are unlikely to do so. The main obstacles to the exports of the sub-Saharan African and Least Developed Countries appear to be in the non-tariff area (sanitary, phytosanitary standards), which increasingly originate from the private sector and are not dealt with under the Doha framework (traceability requirements, etc.). An agreement in Doha is unlikely to solve these problems and open large markets for the poorest countries. While this is not an argument to give up multilateral liberalization, a more specific and differentiated treatment should be considered in WTO rules, and corrective measures should be implemented.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sena Kimm Gnangnon

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine empirically whether the impact of multilateral trade liberalization on export performance and export performance convergence in developing countries depends on the amount of Aid for Trade (AfT) flows that accrue to these countries. Export performance is measured by export of goods and services to gross domestic product ratio, whereas export performance convergence refers to the process whereby a developing country’s export performance catches up with the world’s average export performance.Design/methodology/approachThe analysis has used an unbalanced panel data set covering a sample of 97 developing countries, over the period 2002 to 2015. The two-step system generalized methods of moments has been used to address the question empirically.FindingsEmpirical results show that multilateral trade liberalization generates higher export performance and convergence in export performance in developing countries only when it is accompanied by higher AfT flows to developing countries, with a view of helping these countries enhance their trade capacity and reap the opportunities offered by multilateral trade liberalization in the international trade market.Research limitations/implicationsThese findings indicate that greater access to the international trade market is not sufficient to promote developing countries’ export performance and convergence in export performance. Such a promotion could materialize if multilateral trade liberalization is accompanied by higher AfT flows (to enhance these countries’ capacity to trade). The findings therefore indicate that the current context of escalation of trade tensions would likely result in lower degree of multilateral trade liberalization, and eventually lower AfT flows to recipient-countries, and ultimately hamper developing countries’ export performance and convergence in export performance.Practical implicationsThe findings therefore indicate that the current context of escalation of trade tensions would likely result in lower degree of multilateral trade liberalization, and eventually lower AfT flows to recipient-countries, and ultimately hamper developing countries’ export performance and convergence in export performance. An avenue for future research could be to perform the same analysis when data would be available over a longer time period. Future studies on the matter could also investigate whether the findings obtained apply to components of export performance, including for example manufactured exports and non-manufactured exports.Originality/valueMany papers related to the AfT effectiveness have looked at the effect of AfT inflows on recipient-countries’ export performance. However, little attention has been paid to the effect of multilateral trade liberalization on developing countries’ export performance and export performance convergence and particularly to whether this effect would depend on the amounts of AfT that would accrue to developing countries to help them develop their trade capacity. To the best of our knowledge, no previous paper has addressed this issue.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 138-157
Author(s):  
Kumar Gaurav ◽  
Nalin Bharti

The present study endeavours to observe the trade creation and trade diversion effects of three free trade agreements (FTAs) in Asia, namely, India–Japan CEPA (IJCEPA), India–Sri Lanka FTA (ISFTA), and India–Bhutan FTA (IBFTA). The article aims to evaluate three uncommon FTAs that include developing–developed, developing–developing and developing–least developed countries. The objective is to evaluate the effects of these FTAs on exports and draw lessons for both the contracting parties and for other economies to commence FTAs that promote trade liberalization. This paper also aims to debunk the myth that FTAs between developing-least developed countries is not beneficial for the developing or least developed counterpart. The study applies augmented gravity model to capture the trade creation and trade diversion effects. The results confirm that ISFTA and IBFTA have trade creation effect, while in case of IJCEPA, there is trade diversion. These bilateral agreements can open the ways for multilateral trade liberalization in the long-run. JEL : F10, F13, F14


2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 765-780 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sena Kimm Gnangnon

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the empirical literature of the macroeconomic effect of trade facilitation reforms by examining the impact of the latter on tax revenue in both developed and developing countries. The relevance of the topic lies on the fact that at the Bali Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2013, Trade Ministers agreed for the first time since the creation of the WTO (in 1995) on an Agreement to facilitate trade around the world, dubbed Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). The study considers both at-the-border and behind-the border measures of Trade Facilitation. Design/methodology/approach To conduct this study, the authors rely on the literature related to the structural factors that explain tax revenue mobilization. The authors mainly use within fixed effects estimator. The analysis relies on 102 countries (of which 23 industrial countries) over the period 2004-2007 (based on data availability). A focus has also been made on African countries, within the sample of developing countries. Findings The empirical analysis suggests evidence of a positive and significant effect of trade facilitation reforms on non-resources tax revenue, irrespective of the sample of countries considered in the analysis. Research limitations/implications This finding should contribute to dampening the fear of policymakers in developing countries, including Africa that the implementation of the TFA would entail higher costs, without necessarily being associated with higher benefits. An avenue for future research would be to extend the period of the study when data would be available. Originality/value To the best of the authors knowledge, this study had not been performed in the literature of the determinants of tax revenue mobilization, although fact-based analysis was performed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 55
Author(s):  
Muslih Faozanudin ◽  
Shainima Islam

People’s mobility and international migration are quite interesting phenomena to discuss. Until now, there are still differences in views between industrialized countries and developing countries regarding the contribution of migration to development for both sending and receiving countries. This paper aims to analyze based on existing secondary data the linkage between migration and sustainable development. For analysis, this study uses a descriptive approach, with secondary data as the primary source. The analysis found that both sending and receiving countries - benefited from population mobility and international migration. The least developed countries in the economy and overall infrastructure are supplying countries for this migration process, and increasing remittances and skilled workers to help other countries. Although it is realized that this condition is the impact of the weak economic system of developing countries on the one hand and the demographic that occur in advanced industrialized countries on the other. To maintain the stability of the supply chain for economic development, international migration is included as one of the sustainable development programs that apply more humane values. Therefore, migrants should be seen as potential contributors to the growth of sending and receiving countries, and some even claim that they are heroes of foreign exchange. Keywords:  migration, remmitance, sustainable development Mobilitas masyarakat dan migrasi internasional merupakan fenomena yang cukup menarik untuk dibahas. sampai saat ini masih terdapat perbedaan pandangan antara negara industri dan negara berkembang, tentang  kontribusi migrasi terhadap  pembangunan, baik  bagi negara yang asal migrant maupun bagi negara penerima. Makalah ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis berdasarkan data sekunder yang ada mengenai keterkaitan antara migrasi dan pembangunan berkelanjutan. Untuk analisis, penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan deskriptif, dengan data sekunder sebagai sumber primer. Hasil analisis menemukan bahwa kedua negara-negara pengirim dan penerima - mendapat manfaat dari mobilitas penduduk dan migrasi internasional. Negara-negara kurang berkembang dalam ekonomi dan infrastruktur secara keseluruhan menjadi negara pemasok untuk proses migrasi ini, dan meningkatkan pengiriman uang dan pekerja terampil untuk membantu negara lain. Meskipun disadari bahwa kondisi ini merupakan dampak dari lemahnya sistem perekonomian negara berkembang di satu sisi dan faktor demografi dan kesuburan yang terjadi di negara industri maju di sisi lain. Untuk menjaga stabilitas rantai pasokan pembangunan ekonomi, migrasi internasional dimasukkan sebagai salah satu program pembangunan berkelanjutan yang menerapkan nilai-nilai yang lebih manusiawi. Oleh karena itu, para migran harus dilihat sebagai kontributor potensial bagi pertumbuhan negara pengirim dan penerima,  bahkan ada yang mengklaim bahwa mereka adalah sebagai pahlawan devisa. Kata kunci:  migrasi, pembangunan berkelanjutan, remiten


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Federico Carril-Caccia

PurposeThe present article analyses the effects of cross-border mergers and acquisitions (CBM&As) on targets' total factor productivity (TFP), employment, wages and intangible-asset investment. The author investigates whether the impact of CBM&As differs depending on the origin of the investing multinational (MNE). The author distinguishes between CBM&As from European countries, other developed countries and emerging countries.Design/methodology/approachThe author makes use of a unique firm-level data set of foreign direct investment in the French manufacturing sector. The authors applies propensity score matching and difference in differences to estimate the effect of CBM&As.FindingsThe results show that the consequences of CBM&As differ strongly depending on the origin. CBM&As from European MNEs have a positive impact on TFP, wages and intangible-asset investment, and those from emerging countries seem to increase wages and intangible-asset investments. In contrast, CBM&As that originate from MNEs from other developed countries do not have a significant effect.Originality/valueThis article contributes to the growing literature on the effects of foreign direct investment that highlights the relevance of accounting for the MNEs' origin. In particular, it is the first to address the impact of emerging-country MNEs' CBM&As in Europe.


Economies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sena Gnangnon ◽  
Jean-François Brun

This paper investigates the impact of multilateral trade liberalization on resource revenue, using an unbalanced panel dataset comprising 57 countries, including both developed and developing countries, over the period 1995–2015. By means of the two-step system Generalized Methods of Moments (GMM) estimator, the empirical analysis suggests that multilateral trade liberalization exerts a negative effect on resource revenue, probably at the benefit of non-resource revenue. However, this effect over the full sample hides a positive effect of multilateral trade liberalization on resource revenue in poorest countries, and a negative effect of multilateral trade liberalization on resource revenue in non-poorest countries of the sample. Additionally, the negative effect of multilateral trade liberalization on resource revenue over the full sample appears to be dependent on the degree of domestic trade liberalization. In fact, multilateral trade liberalization genuinely induces a reducing effect on resource revenue only if countries liberalize their domestic trade regime beyond a minimum level.


2018 ◽  
Vol 09 (03) ◽  
pp. 1850007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sèna Kimm Gnangnon

The world has experienced in recent years a rising anti-trade and anti-globalization sentiment, which would likely jeopardize recent efforts by the international trade community, in particular Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO), to promote multilateral trade liberalization (MTP). The current article investigates the impact of MTP on countries’ terms of trade volatility. Results based on a large panel dataset suggest that MTP exerts a significant reducing effect on countries’ terms of trade volatility. However, this impact appears to be dependent on countries’ development level. The take-home message is that greater cooperation on trade matters, including among WTO Members would help promote multilateral trade liberalization, which would surely contribute to reducing terms of trade volatility, for the benefits of all countries, in particular developing economies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 194-212
Author(s):  
Saverio Minardi

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of two-tier firm-level collective agreements on firms’ propensity to use temporary employment, accounting for the process of self-selection of firms into different bargaining levels in the Italian context. It further examines which firm-level characteristics drive this process of selection. Design/methodology/approach The empirical analysis uses a panel data set of Italian firms for the years 2005, 2007, 2010 and 2015. Estimations are produced and compared through ordinary least square regression, random-effects and fixed-effects models. Findings Results show that enterprises adopting two-tier firm-level agreements (TTFA) are associated with lower levels of temporary workers. However, a longitudinal analysis suggests that introducing a TTFA does not impact firms’ propensity to employ temporary workers. This novel finding highlights the presence of a selection process based on firm-level time-constant characteristics. The paper argues that these characteristics refer to management orientation toward high-road rather than low-road employment strategies. Further evidence is brought in support of this claim, showing that firms’ propensity toward the provision of training for their labor force partially explain the process of selection. Originality/value The study is the first to analyze the impact of secondary-level collective agreements on firms’ reliance on temporary employment, offering new evidence on the causes of the expansion of temporary employment. It further highlights the relevance of employers’ strategies in shaping the impact of the bargaining structure.


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