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This paper estimates the welfare effects of service trade liberalization at the country-sector level. We build a panel dataset combining information on service trade restriction index and bilateral service trade flows for 45 countries and estimate the service trade elasticity for cross-country heterogeneity at short horizons. Findings suggest that countries with smaller service trade share have greater the service trade cost elasticity, and the service trade elasticity ranges from 0.11 to 12.61. Then, we develop the CP mode to quantify the welfare effects from service trade liberalization. This study finds a significant positive relationship between service trade and welfare. During the 2014 –2018 period, service trade liberalization improved global welfare by 1.01%. The empirical results indicate that service trade liberalization mainly improves welfare through productivity effect and scale effect, with the former effect having a greater impact than the latter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of the economy, individuals are gradually raising awareness of the impacts of their daily behaviors on the environment. This paper uses household survey data from China Family Panel Studies to investigate the influence of trade liberalization on Chinese residents' pro-environmental behaviors. The results first reveal that trade liberalization has a significant positive impact on residents' pro-environmental behaviors, implying that trade liberalization is conducive to promoting residents' daily behaviors in a less environmentally harmful manner. Second, the impacts of trade liberalization on residents' pro-environmental behaviors are heterogeneous depending on regions, household sizes, and household incomes per capita. Third, trade liberalization helps residents form environmentally friendly living habits by the mechanisms of improving income, promoting urbanization, and increasing the government'ss investment in waste disposal. Our study provides insights into regulating residents' pro-environmental behaviors and improving environmental quality in emerging economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper employs the WITS-SMART model to analyze the potential impacts of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) on specific industries in Malaysia and China. By modifying the Armington elasticity and the parameter 'a' in the Swiss formula, five distinct scenarios are established to simulate the effects of various tariff reduction schemes. The analysis reveals positive and significant overall trade effects. In a scenario of complete tariff elimination, Malaysia experiences higher trade and welfare effects compared to China, addressing the longstanding trade deficit between the two countries. Finally, recommendations are made to gradually reduce tariffs in stages and sectors, prioritize tariff reduction on specific goods, implement zero tariffs in China first, focus on products with international competitiveness, and address potential asymmetric industrial output effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the long-run and short-run relationship between trade openness and inflation for ECOWAS countries for the period 1970–2020. Using alternative openness measures and estimation methods, it was found that there is a significant positive long-run relationship between trade openness and inflation for ECOWAS countries. The implication of this result is that, if ECOWAS countries continue to import consumption products outside the region rather than capital goods that can increase domestic production, it will be very difficult for member countries to meet the convergence criteria, specifically low inflation required for the proposed monetary unification. In the short run, the results show that there is a negative relationship between trade openness and inflation for ECOWAS countries. This result is specific to a determined period and as the economy gets more open, it becomes more exposed to a higher rate of inflation. Therefore, to meet low inflation criteria, member countries should take it as a matter of urgency to fully implement the ECOWAS trade liberalization scheme to improve intra-regional trade. This would reduce excessive dependence on external imports which makes ECOWAS countries vulnerable to international price volatility, currency depreciation and a high rate of inflation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the impact of trade liberalisation on the rural labour force in China, with a particular focus on labour mobility and off-farm employment. The analysis utilises micro data from the National Fixed Point Survey and Chinese manufacturing firms. The identification strategy relies on combining information on the initial province labour and product market structure with the exogenous tariff reduction schedule over WTO accession and distinguishes between output markets and intermediate input tariffs. The results are as follows: First, the reduction of output tariffs does not promote rural labour mobility, whereas the reduction of input tariffs has a positive impact on mobility. Additionally, output tariffs reduce off-farm employment income and time, while input tariffs increase them. This conclusion is applicable only to low-skilled labour. Second, the tariff reduction significantly affects total wages and the number of employees in firms, as supported by macro data. This suggests that tariff cuts have implications for firm employment and, consequently, rural employment. Third, tariff cuts have a more pronounced effect on young individuals, those with lower levels of education, and the female workforce. Therefore, the interests of these groups should be fully considered in the process of further import liberalisation and tariff reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores conflicting national perspectives and evolution of World Trade Organisation (WTO) through a flexible systems approach. It explores international trade system's conflicting thesis antithesis of global trade regimes/regional trade agreements vis-a-vis national perspective/interest. The multilateral trade framework acts as a facilitator for equal trade norms for all, accidentally creating a barrier for several developing and less developed nations to participate in the "free trade regime". Literary evidence suggests these nations participate in the regional trade agreements (RTAs) which may not be very beneficial for the nations participating in it. Adding to the damage, these countries distance themselves from WTO, heading for another dent on their economy. In the era of globalisation appearing like a "Zero Sum Game" for economies and therefore, a system in an institutional framework essentially desires "flexibility" and change with changing times. When an organisation gets nudged by the diverse views of its members and detects belligerence and discontent among member nations, it is time for organisational change, a change in the current institutional paradigm towards organisational flexibility. To explore these conflicting perspectives, the grounded theory methodology has been used in this study. The research design is exploratory in nature. Using judgemental and snowball sampling of international experts in the area of multilateral trade and international trade negotiations, the thematic coding paradigm has been drawn. The process has been iterated, and cross-validation has been done with the literature after deploying grounded theory methodology. Subsequent, open, axial, and selective coding has been performed and data triangulation for validation of themes has been done. In addressing the dominant theme evolved from the study, the institutional crevice within the global trading system requires a comprehensive approach. This begins with reinstating conducive conditions for negotiating global trade liberalisation and facilitating consensus among WTO member countries with modernised regulatory framework and augments its global decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preferential trade agreements (PTAs) have mushroomed over the last decades. However, the various forms of bi- and plurilateral arrangements have always been met with the concern that their proliferation might come at the expense of overall trade freedom because of undermining multilateral governance. This paper starts from the fact that international treaties are notoriously difficult to enforce, as is compliance with (trade) agreements. By focusing on the political economy of how cooperation in trade liberalization is ultimately sustained via the threat of retaliation as institutionalized within the World Trade Organization (WTO), the paper illuminates a novel and completely different channel between PTA membership and multilateral trade liberalization. Exploring their interaction with respect to trade freedom, we explain that PTA membership actually improves on the working of multilateral arrangements that are supposed to ensure cooperation in trade liberalization, thus effectively catering to more open trade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the endogenous formation of free trade agreements. There are four countries belonging to two types according to market demand and production technology. A unique strong Nash equilibrium exists for the coalition formation game. In equilibrium, two coalition structures may emerge: global free trade, wherein a single coalition encompassing all countries is established, or polarization, characterized by the formation of two symmetric agreements between the same type countries. The specific coalition structure that emerges in equilibrium depends on both the disparity in demand and the gap in unit cost of production between the two types of countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We develop general equilibrium models that incorporate an agricultural equipment sector to explore the impact of climate change on skilled-unskilled wage inequality in a small open economy, with a specific focus on the role of the domestic capital market. In the model with the agricultural equipment sector using skilled labor as input, we illustrate that climate change decreases both skilled and unskilled wages. However, its effect on wage inequality varies depending on the discrepancy of the capital intensity between the urban skilled and unskilled sectors. Moreover, if the demand for capital in the agricultural equipment sector significantly influences the capital market, this sector will not only act as a buffer, but also trigger a reversal change of wage inequality. To enhance the robustness of our findings, we extend the model to include considerations of public goods provision and taxation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is the largest free trade agreement in the world in terms of its membership and it has tremendous potential to lift millions of Africans out of poverty through boosting intra-Africa trade by ensuring that Africa has one gigantic market of over 1.3 billion people. For this to be achieved, this trade agreement must be implemented rapidly and to the letter. This article therefore argues that, among others, the use and adoption of an African indigenous language such as Kiswahili can play an important role in enabling Africans to trade with one another with ease and mutual trust. The adoption and use of this language as a potential lingua franca for commerce and teaching and learning also has the potential to harness the innovation and creativity of Africans as this would be emanating from the age-old ingenuity of our forebears. The main argument made here is that language is both the reservoir and vessel for culture and indigenous knowledge systems (IKS), and without its maximum exploitation, our societies will not industrialise and develop. Methodologically, qualitative semi-open-ended interviews and non-participant observation were conducted in Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa to gauge experts' views on the utility of Kiswahili as a potential Pan-African language. Pan-Africanism and Afrocentricity are key theories deployed in giving shape to this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to investigate trade openness's effects on total factor productivity (TFP) using monthly data from December 1991 to March 2024. The analysis also incorporated absorptive capacity to examine the behavior of TFP components. Our findings from a multivariate VECM model indicated that absorptive capacity did not significantly impact TFP, even in the short term. Conversely, the increase in openness contributes to raising TFP by about 26 and 0.16 percentage points in the short and long term, respectively. Additionally, absorptive capacity and trade openness Granger-Cause short- and long-term components of TFP. These results are statistically significant at conventional significance levels. Policymakers should consider the dynamic effects of their policy actions on other sectors of the economy that were not initially the focus of the policy. Policymakers should develop concrete policies that improve the efficient use of resources in production chains to potentialize the productive impact of trade liberalization, including investment in human capital, ICT, and research and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development issued by the United Nations is an important foundation for countries to achieve common economic, social and environmental development. Important progress has been made in the evaluation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Hainan Island; nevertheless, there is still a lack of understanding around the trade-offs and synergies between the SDGs. Studying the trade-offs and synergies between Hainan Island's sustainable development goals is of great significance for the coordinated development of these goals and the promotion of the construction of free trade ports. Therefore, based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Assessment System and the existing SDG indicator system on Hainan Island, this paper identifies and quantifies the trade-offs and synergies within and between SDGs and targets on the county scale. Based on the different impacts of different spatial, dimensional and geographical directions, the results show the following: (1) Hainan Province made good progress on multiple SDGs between 2010 and 2021. (2) The most significant synergies between SDGs exist between SDG1 (No Poverty) and SDG10 (Reduce Inequalities), while the most significant trade-offs exist between SDG2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG4 (Quality Education). (3) Obvious spatial characteristics in trade-offs and synergies exist, with the highest level of synergy being in the Haikou and Sanya Economic Circles and their surrounding areas, and in the central region of Hainan Island which has a higher level of trade-offs. (4) The synergistic effect between the SDG targets and indicators in Hainan is much greater than the trade-off effect: the four aspects of people's livelihood improvement, economic development, resource utilization and environmental quality all show synergistic effects in different regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unequal patterns of cultural exchange between the Global South and Global North are sometimes labeled "neo-colonial." What, if anything, is wrong with these patterns? Debates surrounding cultural globalization have traditionally divided proponents of free trade and cultural preservation. The article develops an alternative account grounded in a global application of the ideal of social equality. Citizens of privileged societies ought to regard and relate to citizens of disadvantaged societies as social equals. Patterns of cultural exchange play an important role in promoting these relationships. Historically, colonized peoples were often regarded as inferior based on perceived failures to produce cultural achievements. To the extent that unequal global cultural production and exchange persist, the colonial pattern remains. The duty to relate to foreigners as equals implies that Global North countries should stop pressing for cultural trade concessions and instead favor the import of cultural goods from the Global South. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India embraced open trade policy from 1990s onwards, following the Economic Reforms of 1991, by reducing import tariffs and opening up Indian markets to competition. The expectation from this reform was that the Indian industry would be more competitive. By mid 2000s, India was not only an open economy, however, it was on its way to effect across-the-board reductions/elimination of tariffs and other non-tariff barriers by formalising FTAs and CEPAs several prominent trade partners. Although, trade to GDP ratio has increased from 13% in 1990 to 27% in 2019-20, import dependence of India, especially on China has increased manifold. The paper has delved into the trade policy evolution that led India to open up and increase its presence in the global trade market. However, an industry level Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) analysis reveals that the loss in export competitiveness in six industries at NIC 4-digit level, since 2000-01 to 2017-18, retarded the growth potential in exports that India could have claimed with a phased opening up of trade. These industries were mainly in the textiles and apparel sector and gems and jewellery sector. The industry level factors such as lower productivity growth, higher unit labour costs and presence of low levels of technology are prominent factors that explain the export performance of India that we observe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay examines struggles over a water drainage tunnel as a window into the politics of mining, infrastructure, and national development in early twentieth-century Peru. It argues that the Peruvian mining elite operated as an organized network of entrepreneurs, mobilizing capital, environmental technology, and the power of the state to challenge the rising hegemony of US interests in Peru's copper corridor. Unlike the classic literature on nineteenth-century mining in Peru, which has presented Peruvian mineowners as a struggling bourgeoisie, this study focuses on this group's innovations and dynamism in the wake of the copper bonanza. It also studies its discursive strategies, which appealed to preexisting skepticism of free trade and anxieties about foreign influence. Altogether, this essay contributes to the literature on US imperialism and capitalist penetration by centering local actors and studying US hegemony as a contentious and contingent process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is growing concern about the relationship between carbon emissions and trade liberalization. Have carbon emissions been affected by trade liberalization? To what extent has it been affected? To answer this question, we creatively constructed a dataset of Chinese listed companies and its re‐appraisal, using the difference‐in‐difference method to investigate the impact of trade liberalization on carbon emissions at the micro level. Our results show that WTO accession leads to lower carbon emission intensity for Chinese exporters engaged in general trade compared to those engaged in processing trade, which are not directly affected by China's WTO accession. In other words, trade liberalization is beneficial for the reduction of carbon emissions and sustainable development. We also test the robustness of our results. In addition, we decompose the question of how trade liberalization affects companies' carbon emissions into research and development mechanism and productivity mechanism for analysis. Our study refines the model of carbon emission and trade issues by incorporating company import indicators and carbon emission indicators into the company production model. It also has important policy implications. Green trade and reduce carbon emissions should be advocated when developing the economy through trade liberalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the factors contributing to carbon emissions in China between 2002 and 2021, considering the impact of GDP growth, shocks in oil prices, trade liberalization and energy use. Using the dynamic simulated ARDL (SARDL) model, we indicate a long‐term link between trade liberalization, oil prices (WTI) shocks, GDP growth, energy use and CO2. The novel SARDL revealed a direct relationship between trade liberalization and CO2 in China in the long term. However, the results show a negative impact of WTI shocks on CO2 emissions. The study suggests that renewable energy (RE) significantly and negatively affects China's CO2 emissions. In addition, the findings conclude that, in the case of China, GDP has an insignificant long‐run relationship with CO2 emissions. The outcomes provide valuable insights for policymakers, researchers and industry stakeholders to enhance RE and promote sustainable energy practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the potential role of APEC in global governance, emphasizing the importance of a rules-based international trading system. Dr. Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria, the APEC Secretariat Executive Director, highlights the significance of multilateral cooperation in ensuring fair and secure trade. The article also explores the evolution of trade agreements like CPTPP and RCEP, emphasizing the need for middle-power leadership to promote reforms in the international trading system. Additionally, it suggests initiatives for closer partnerships between ASEAN countries and Japan, including student exchanges and collaborations to strengthen economic relationships. [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of International Journal of Professional Business Review (JPBReview) is the property of Open Access Publications LLC and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

What factors affect trade preferences? This article focuses on current‐account balances, which despite being de‐emphasized by mainstream economic theory, play an outsized role in political rhetoric regarding the costs and benefits of free trade. This article shows that individual preferences over trade openness reflect the mercantilist belief that when a country is running a current‐account deficit, trade reduces that country's aggregate employment prospects and diminishes its status on the world stage. This article shows that current‐account balances are an important driver of individual trade preferences. The theory's predictions are borne out by hierarchical analysis of cross‐national observational survey data, and further supported by the results of an original survey priming experiment in the United States. These results contribute to a growing literature emphasizing the effect of macroeconomic factors on preferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Free trade is important in the development of good economic institutions. One issue, in particular, is whether free trade agreements (FTA) can reduce corruption. Liberalizing trade while reducing corruption can reinforce moral behavior. We examine FTA between the United States and its Latin American trading partners. Free trade may provide incentives that could possibly result in countries becoming less corrupt over time. However, since 2004 the United States has included explicit anti-corruption clauses in its agreements. Using a difference-in-difference framework and a panel of 16 Latin American countries between 1991 and 2018, we test if trade agreements with the U.S. have any effect on corruption. We find that there is an increase in general corruption in countries after signing these trade agreements in comparison to countries that never signed one. These findings suggest that letting countries determine their own rules for reducing corruption might be better than dictating them through an agreement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a footloose capital model in a two‐country economy and the manufacturing and natural resource sectors with heterogeneous manufacturing firms to analyze the impacts of trade liberalization and technological progress on the net capital flows, net export, and social welfare. Our main analytical result is that a lagged country initially experiences capital outflow due to the high technological gap in the manufacturing sector with increasing returns to scale, then capital inflow due to the home market effect. This corresponds with the fact that China was a net importer of manufactured goods initially, and became a net exporter recently. These results are consistent with the data obtained after the reform and opening‐up policy in 1978. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is widespread concern about whether opening up changes cultural customs. However, empirical evidence remains limited. In this paper, we provide new evidence on this issue by examining the impact of trade liberalization on marriage payment customs in China. We first provide a conceptual framework based on a labor market perspective to illustrate how trade liberalization has driven changes in marriage payment customs. Then, using China's World Trade Organization accession as a quasi‐natural experiment, this paper uses the difference‐in‐differences strategy and China's large‐scale household survey data to conduct an empirical study. Our results suggest that trade liberalization has reduced marriage payments in China, especially the bride price but not the dowry. Evidence from industry and census surveys suggests that the declining earning ability of marriageable men and the increasing relative economic status of women have driven down the bride price from the supply and demand sides, respectively. We also find that the impact of trade liberalization has been concentrated on southern and rural households. In addition to the decline in the bride price, the bad practice of child marriage in China has also been alleviated as a result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the advent of trade liberalisation, trade taxes still remain a key source of tax revenues in sub‐Saharan Africa. Further trade reforms in the form of the African Continental Free Trade Area could, however, hinder output growth in the region if these reforms lead to a decline in total tax revenues. Motivated by this conundrum, this paper investigates the impact of trade liberalisation on tax revenues across a panel of sub‐Saharan African countries. The results indicate that trade liberalisation is associated with an increase in total tax revenues. Also, the reduction of import and export duties significantly increases and decreases domestic and trade tax revenues, respectively. In addition, greater urbanisation is associated with an increase in total tax revenues, while inflation decreases tax revenues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: COVID-19 has affected the economies adversely from all sides. The sudden halt in production has impacted both the supply and demand sides. It calls for analysis to quantify the impact of the reduction in economic activity on the economy-wide variables so that appropriate steps can be taken. This study aims to evaluate the sensitivity of various sectors of the Indian economy to this dual shock. Design/methodology/approach: The eight-sector open economy general equilibrium Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) model has been simulated to evaluate the sector-specific effects of a fall in economic activity due to COVID-19. This model uses an economy-wide accounting framework to quantify the impact of a shock on the given equilibrium economy and report the post-simulation new equilibrium values. Findings: The empirical results state that welfare for the Indian economy falls to the tune of 7.70% due to output shock. Because of demand–supply linkages, it also impacts the inter- and intra-industry flows, demand for factors of production and imports. There is a momentous fall in the demand for factor endowments from all sectors. Among those, the trade-hotel-transport and manufacturing sectors are in the first two positions from the top. The study recommends an immediate revival of the manufacturing and trade-hotel-transport sectors to get the Indian economy back on track. Originality/value: The present study has modified the existing GTAP model accounting framework through unemployment and output closures to account for the impact of change in sectoral output due to COVID-19 on the level of employment and other macroeconomic variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The UK-Australia relationship was invested with renewed importance after Brexit, particularly amongst conservatives in both countries. Ideas about cultural and strategic commonality amongst Anglophone countries were an important element of the elite project underpinning Brexit. A comparative analysis of this Anglosphere perspective is important as it shapes the worldviews of political and policy elites in both countries, thus underpinning recent developments such as AUKUS and the UK-Australia FTA. Drawing on extensive interview data, this article contends that although seldom referred to explicitly, the Anglosphere idea continues to frame understandings of the relationship between Australia and the UK amongst conservative elites in both countries. However, the Anglosphere idea is contested, and our comparison also identifies a persistent strand of what we call ‘Anglo-scepticism’. This Anglo-scepticism is premised on a critical appraisal of the relevance of the Anglosphere idea as a useful perspective through which to understand the UK-Australia relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: With the accelerating process of globalization, trade activities have had profound impacts on both the environment and economic development. Methods: This paper comprehensively evaluates the synergistic effect of bilateral trade on "pollution reduction" and "carbon mitigation," as well as "economic growth," utilizing panel data from China and RCEP countries spanning the period from 1997 to 2020. Results: The empirical results reveal that bilateral trade significantly propels economic growth in RCEP countries and exhibits a positive "pollution reduction" effect, whereas its "carbon reduction" effect remains uncertain. To delve into the underlying reasons for bilateral trade's failure to effectively mitigate carbon emissions, this paper undertakes a mechanism test along two opposing paths. Notably, the influence of bilateral trade on economic growth and "pollution reduction" in RCEP countries varies regionally. Specifically, bilateral trade is more efficacious in fostering economic growth in ASEAN countries. Additionally, bilateral trade enhances environmental quality in ASEAN countries, yet it deteriorates in non-ASEAN countries. Furthermore, this paper examines the intricate relationship between bilateral trade, economic growth, and "pollution reduction" through the application of the PVAR model. It concludes that optimizing environmental quality in RCEP countries is conducive to both local economic growth and bilateral trade. Conclusion: This study not only bears significant implications for understanding the complex interplay between economic growth, environmental quality, trade liberalization, and environmental policies, but also provides invaluable guidance for policy formulation and implementation aimed at achieving green transformation and fostering sustainable economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As trade volume has exponentially increased over the past decades, we investigated the impact of free trade on relative poverty using data from 123 countries between 1995 and 2018. In this investigation, we used three variables for free trade, reflecting three aspects of free trade, trade openness, trade barrier or trade freedom, and trade policy, and two variables for relative poverty; the income share of the bottom 10% and the bottom 20%. When economic growth, polity and socioeconomic factors are controlled for, we found that (1) trade openness hurts the poor, increasing relative poverty regardless of industrialization, (2) trade freedom benefits the poor, decreasing relative poverty although the poor in industrial countries are hurt by trade freedom, and (3) WTO membership as a proxy for a trade policy is not statistically significant to the poor, although it seems beneficial to the poor. Given these results, we conclude that free trade lowers relative poverty, implying that the income shares of the bottoms 10% and 20% can increase more than by 0.9%p and 1.5%p, respectively, as free trade is promoted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the relationship between Britian’s abolition of slavery in its Caribbean colonies in 1838 and its instigation of the First Opium War with China in 1840. In so doing, it works against the occlusion of this relationship in the study of British imperialism despite the centrality of these events to the birth of global systems of free trade and free labour. It draws on the parliamentary debates and correspondence of British Foreign Secretary Lord Palmerston to analyze Britain’s negotiation of anti-slavery efforts with Haiti and its trade of Indian opium with China. It argues that these negotiations position British masculine civility against less-civilized foreign others in ways that legitimate the use of maritime force. This logic of imperial civility produces contradictory effects by demanding an end to the brutality of African enslavement while condoning the devastation of Asian opium addiction enacted in the name of free trade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globalisation has transformed national corporate operations. It allows commercial activity beyond borders, promoting free trade and financial flows. However, concurrently, the influx of cross-border investment has inadvertently facilitated illicit commercial transactions across Nigeria's borders, hence significantly impacting Nigeria's economic performance. This study examined the relationship between cross-border migration and banditry and how they hinder Nigeria's growth. The researchers used textbooks, journal articles, published dissertations, online resources, official statistical documents, international organizations reports, newspapers and periodicals to achieve the objective of the study. The data was analysed using content analysis by extracting relevant information pertaining to the study from the above mentioned secondary sources. This study employed the opportunity structure theory. This theoretical framework states that a group of people, regardless of their amount of discontent or grievances, will not resort to violence unless opportunity structures that enable and inspire violence are present. The study's findings confirm that the permeability of Nigeria's borders has facilitated unrestricted entry for bandits who engage in various forms of violent activities, including cattle rustling, kidnapping and homicides. Information about the victims, the settings, and the nature of the assaults were also submitted as part of the investigation. The majority of businesses in Nigeria's North Eastern region have shut down due to security concerns brought on by armed bandits, according to the study's findings. There has been an increase in youth unemployment and illiteracy, and people's living situations have worsened. The research recommends that Nigeria should invest in human resources to improve security. Security agencies should also receive modern technologies to identify and deter unlawful entry into Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the impact of ideational elements on state efforts to achieve regional integration, with a specific focus on Morocco's pursuit of membership in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). This study investigates how shared cultural heritage, historical narratives, and common views on principles such as free trade and security partnerships foster a sense of collective identity among states, thereby promoting deeper cooperation and integration within regions. However, conflicting ideologies can create obstacles to meaningful integration by breeding distrust and friction among participating states. This study argues that constructivism provides valuable insights into regional integration processes by emphasizing the importance of shared norms, identities, and social interactions among states. The analysis reveals thatMorocco's aspiration to align with the interests of other African states in ECOWAS and promote economic integration serves as the ideological basis for its pursuit of ECOWAS membership, viewing it as a symbol of African resurgence and a means to strengthen its regional position. Although Morocco's history, laws, society, and politics align with ECOWAS norms, the absence of provisions for new members in the ECOWAS Treaty presents a hurdle for Moroccan accession. Nevertheless, this article suggests that the ECOWAS Authority of the Heads of State and Government could potentially address this issue by establishing a supplementary protocol to admit Morocco, underscoring the significance of ideological factors in shaping regional integration processes and institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) are known to exist in various forms. In this study, we investigate the role of Red-Tape Barriers (RTBs), a type of NTBs resulting from wasteful bureaucratic procedures, in a bilateral trade model under international oligopolistic competition. We demonstrate that, under relatively weak conditions, RTBs can arise endogenously. Furthermore, we reveal that RTBs can exhibit reactions opposite to tariffs. Specifically, we show that an increase in tariffs can lead to a significant decrease in RTBs, causing total trade costs to decline, which we call 'backlash'. Additionally, when the backlash occurs, an increase in tariffs can improve consumer surplus, government revenue and expenditure, and social surplus. This study implies that tariff elimination, with the presence of RTBs, may hinder trade liberalization and reduce social surplus, emphasizing the need to carefully consider RTBs' effects in trade policy, especially for oligopolistic industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a pedagogical guide to conflictual inflation, showing the similarities and differences between the post-Keynesian analysis and the alternative mainstream WS-PS model. Among other things, it shows the difficulties that analysts meet when they try to justify the existence of a NAIRU. Productivity growth, wage-wage inflation and the possibility of a flat Phillips curve are considered within the framework of the post-Keynesian conflicting-claims model. The paper also deals with conflictual inflation within the context of an open economy that imports intermediate goods and raw materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes an original perspective on the origins and formation of the modern welfare state, arguing that the openness of national economies had a critical influence upon the kind of social insurance policies each country would adopt before World War I. If we classify Western national economies into two typical types, the free-trade open economy (FOE) and the protectionist closed economy (PCE), depending on their trade policy, we can make two hypotheses. FOE, which is under heavy pressure from international competition, is more sensitive than PCE to the increase in employers' cost. Therefore, hypothesis (1) is: PCE would precede FOE in introducing social insurance which involves considerable cost increases for employers. Hypothesis (2) is: if FOE dares to undertake a social insurance scheme, they would likely create social insurance that relies on general tax revenues to mitigate cost increases for employers. On the contrary, PCE can undertake social insurance schemes that involve considerable cost increases for employers more easily than FOE, as protective tariffs countervail their cost increases to some extent. Through the comparative analysis of all major Western countries, this article demonstrates the validity of these hypotheses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper revisits the relationship between rent-seeking and market reform. We consider a scenario where less efficient domestic and more efficient foreign firms are engaged in Cournot competition bribery. The local firm pays for imposing a cost on the foreign firms; the foreign firms pay so that the local competitor does not obtain an overwhelming advantage. With corrupt politicians, free trade will only be adopted if it maximizes the value of the bribes they receive. A positive relationship between free-trade reform and corruption can occur when foreign firms face little competition or if they are not sufficiently efficient compared to domestic firms. On the other hand, when foreign firms operate in a competitive environment, radical free trade reduces the supply of bribes to politicians, which is precisely why such trade is not adopted. If the number of foreign firms is limited, both drastic reform and corruption are facilitated. With competition from a large number of foreign firms and the existence of a relatively efficient local firm, no reform is implemented, and the level of corruption remains unchanged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last four decades of the 20th century, the world rice market was highly unstable, with price volatility greater than that on world wheat and maize markets. In the 21st century, however, new dynamics (a thicker world rice market, more irrigation, milder export restrictions) have contributed to a reduction in price volatility that is now lower than that on world wheat and maize markets. In addition, the El Niño events that are responsible for many shocks to the world rice market are largely predictable several months in advance. The reduced volatility on the world rice market and the predictability of El Niño events make it easier to use international trade as an instrument for food security. The recent experience with rice trade liberalization by Asian rice importers has been largely positive, helping to improve food security and the affordability of healthy diets, with little impact on domestic price volatility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Purpose: This study aims to investigate the factors influencing the citrus trade in Indonesia, the effects of tariff and non-tariff policies on the industry and the welfare of producers and consumers. Design/methodology/approach: The research used annual series data from 1991 to 2021 and employed inferential, simulation, and descriptive analyses. The two-stage least squares (2SLS) of 19 simultaneous equations were used to estimate parameters. Findings: The results indicate that free trade policies and restrictions have influenced the citrus industry, leading to a reduction in Indonesian citrus imports, and increased consumer and producer prices. However, eliminating import tariff policies on citrus from China and import restrictions increased producer surplus while decreasing consumer surplus, government revenue, and total welfare. Therefore, trade policies should be combined with non-trade policies such as citrus region development policies and advancing cultivation technology. Originality/value: This study provides empirical evidence for the Indonesian government to formulate effective citrus trade and development policies. It emphasizes the importance of carefully considering the impact of trade policy on the citrus industry and the need to implement non-trade policies such as citrus zone development policies and advancing cultivation technology to benefit both producers and consumers. Peer review: The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-02-2023-0148 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economists became skeptical about the benefits of free trade for developing countries during the Great Depression, but in the 1960s some had come to recognize the problems with import substitution policies and the benefits of encouraging exports. This article examines how four economists who led this transition—Ian Little, Jagdish Bhagwati, Anne Krueger, and Bela Balassa—came to their views and helped build a new professional consensus on trade policy and economic development. In each case, practical experience, and empirical observation, particularly from India, helped shape their opinions, persuading two of the four to revise their previous beliefs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the long-term effects of trade liberalization on human capital accumulation for students, specifically through schooling decisions. To establish this linkage, I leverage the significant reduction in trade tariffs following China's WTO accession in 2001 as an identification strategy and construct the shift-share instrument variable for each Chinese prefecture's exposure to trade shock. Utilizing cognitive test scores from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) dataset for cohorts aged between 13 to 20 at the time of trade liberalization, I find that the trade shock leads to a decline in cognitive test scores approximately 15 years later. Furthermore, combining CFPS data with the China Population Census, I demonstrate that export expansion has resulted in a reduction in university enrollment and less education years among youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the environmental sustainability effectiveness of various political systems is taken into consideration, it is doubtful as to whether the presumption of the overall efficiency of democracy can be sustained in global governance architecture. The effectiveness of autocracies and democracies (i.e., governance indicators are compared in the present study) with reference to strengths and weaknesses in environmental objectives. This analysis explores the effect of autocracy, democracy, as well as the trend of globalization on CO2 emissions for open and closed economies from 1990 to 2020. Crucial indicators such as economic growth, renewable energy and non-renewable energy are controlled for while examining the roles of economic expansion on the disaggregated energy consumption portfolios for both open and closed economies. The empirical analysis revealed some insightful results. First, for the open economies, with the exception of non-renewable energy which shows a positive significant impact on emissions, all variables show a negative effect on emissions. Furthermore, the closed economies result indicate that, apart from renewable energy which has a negative relationship with emissions, all the variables including the interaction terms have a positive relation with emissions. However, an inverted U-shaped environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis was validated for both economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article empirically explores the potential effects of CETA (Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement) on per capita emissions of 4 air pollutants. It shows statistically significant evidence suggesting that more trade between the EU and Canada could help reduce per capita emissions of C O 2 , C H 4 , and N 2 O in a typical CETA member, respectively. However, it finds unambiguous empirical evidence implying that Canada may act as Pollution Haven for C H 4 because it has more land per capita than any EU member. Moreover, it provides clear empirical evidence suggesting that 8 former Communist EU members (and Malta only for F-Gases may act as Pollution Havens for N 2 O and F-Gases because they are poorer than Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study comprehensively examines the diversification of asparagus exports from Peru, concentrating its analysis on the strategic diversification of markets and companies as pivotal for fostering sustainable growth in the agricultural sector. Utilizing a descriptive and non-experimental quantitative methodology, the research analyzed export data spanning from 2018 to 2023. This analysis was performed using the Herfindahl-Hirschman index (HHI) (Arbulú Ballesteros et al., 2024), a tool designed to measure market concentration levels (Montes Ninaquispe, Pantaleón Santa María, Arbulú Ballesteros, et al., 2023). The findings reveal a significant ongoing dependence on the American market, highlighting it as the primary export destination. However, there is a noticeable trend towards greater diversification among export destinations and the companies involved in these processes. The study notes a progressive decline in market concentration, which suggests a shift towards a more competitive and diversified export environment. Conclusions drawn from the research underscore the critical need to develop strategies that not only diversify markets but also enhance overall competitiveness within the sector. Recommendations from the study stress the importance of tapping into emerging markets, creating value-added products, adopting advanced technologies, and supporting the inception of new businesses. Additionally, it advocates for the promotion of business development across various regions to mitigate risks and encourage more balanced and sustainable economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies how the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) affected the wage gap between high and low-paid workers within Mexico, considering internal migration. In low-skilled, labor-abundant developing countries, trade liberalization should theoretically increase the wages of low-skilled workers, decreasing income inequality. However, anecdotal evidence indicates that NAFTA increased the gap between rich and poor in Mexico, and empirical evidence is mixed (Hirte et al. 2020; Brülhart 2011; Bosch and Manacorda 2010; Nicita 2009; Chiquiar 2008; Hanson 2007; Gonzalez-Rivas 2007). Because trade may affect wages differently across regions within the country, accurate measures of wage effects must incorporate internal migration; otherwise, apparent wage convergence or divergence might only reflect a geographic resorting of workers. We evaluate wage changes by considering rural-to-urban migration. We first find a slight decrease in both internal and external migration in the years after NAFTA. Then, we find that all male workers see a wage reduction from trade openness, although the harm of high-wage workers almost doubled that of their counterparts with low wages. NAFTA also mitigated some of the wage differentials between the North and South. In summary, trade liberalization has reduced wage differentials among working-age men in urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This introduction article establishes the territory for the Symposium What Was Cultural Economy? After setting out the reasoning behind the collection and its eight contributions, the introduction describes the terms on which the 'cultural economy' concept was launched, within the Open University's Faculty of Social Sciences, at the end of the 1990s. Noting the collective work involved, I highlight the role of Stuart Hall, and the brand of cultural studies he represents, as a key vector. Hall's position as totemic public intellectual obscures his work as a teacher, curriculum designer and colleague, channelling the 'cultural turn' through this internal academic context. As such, I also stress the OU's course team model of intellectual production, drawing from recent historiography on workshops as devices for the practice of collective intellectual and cultural work, coupling this to the figure of the 'vanishing mediator' as a driver of material and symbolic transformation. I then move to sketch out some of the key interpersonal relations, institutional contexts and intellectual trajectories through which cultural economy was first formulated. In conclusion, I ask what implications this little history might hold for a present-day journal engaged in the workshopping of ideas at increasingly international scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this interview, Angela McRobbie reflects on her intellectual and professional trajectory from the mid-1980s to the early 2000s, amid her associations with Stuart Hall and the emerging cultural economy agenda at the Open University. The interview expands on, and incorporates elements from, her contribution to a 2020 workshop marking two decades since Paul du Gay and Michael Pryke convened a 'Workshop on Cultural Economy' at the OU in Milton Keynes. The interview forms part of a special issue, titled What Was Cultural Economy? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed the relationship between economic variables, Amazon deforestation, and CO2 emissions in Brazil. We used a macroeconomic approach of a system of open economies (global vector autoregressive [GVAR]). We constructed the international economy using 34 countries, representing 77% of the world GDP and 80% of world CO2 emissions. GVAR allows us to simulate the world economy, capture spillover effects, incorporate the externality of gas emissions, treating Brazil as a small open economy, and including trade integration in the analysis. We found that domestic and external shocks affect Amazon deforestation and CO2 emissions; the principal external shock is the Chinese one, followed by the European and the US shocks. China, directly and indirectly, affects CO2 emissions and deforestation in Brazil through two channels (exchange rates and policy rates). The estimates showed that Brazilian currency and commodity prices are relevant for deforestation, while industrial production is for gas emissions. Other results are that (i) the Brazilian economy affects CO2 emissions in Latin America (and the principal influence of China is on Asia), and (ii) the Chinese shock loses importance when using bilateral trade in 1999–2001, when China was not a fundamental trade partner of Brazil. Alternative model configurations demonstrate that soybean prices and Argentina influence Brazilian carbon emissions and Amazon deforestation. Specifically, soybean prices emerge as a major driver of carbon emissions. These results suggest that geography and trade integration matter to understanding Amazon deforestation and CO2 emissions. Our estimates highlight the importance of government policies and international cooperation in curbing Amazon deforestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]