This paper examines the economic integration processes among developing countries and developed nations. It looks into the possible existence of a general theory of economic integration and the reflection is carried out on three levels. The first is theoretical even normative, analyzing the...

This study examines the feasibility of economic integration in Latin America. We analyze the existence of the long-term and short-term common movements among key macro variables—real GDP, intra-regional trade, private investment and consumption—in the seven largest economies in Latin...

The paper explores the argument that trade between the Mercosur countries should be stimulated by preferential policies because of their geographic proximi - ty. That is, that the Mercosur countries are candidates for “natural” integration. The paper finds that, on average, transportation...

Since the end of the Second World War, economic integration has been regarded as being one of the most important global economic policies. Its relevance has not diminished and most countries, especially those that are developing, consider it to be a long-term strategy. Integration is present in...

The objective of this paper is to examine the effects of political asymmetries on a FTA and a CU. I have shown that either a higher lobbying sensitivity to the foreign firm or a more susceptibility of politicians to lobbying are sufficient to lead to a higher tariff protection at the individual...

We evaluate the potential dynamic effects of MERCOSUR on the Argentinean economy. Two approaches, already used with other regional integration agreements, are applied for measuring medium and long-term effects. Special care has been taken in separating intra from extra zone effects. All...

This paper examines the qualitative impact and the degree of effectiveness of several labor market policies when domestic union’s wage response and economic integration are explicitly taken into account. The employment policies considered include payroll tax cuts, unemployment benefits cuts,...

This paper attempts to quantify the extent to which U.S. growth is an “engine” of the world economy. Results based on fixed-effects estimation using panel data suggest a significant positive impact of U.S. growth on growth in the rest of the world, especially developing countries, in recent...

We analyze industrial specialization and geographic concentration patterns within the NAFTA area during 1988-2000 and examine the determinant of spatial concentration. NAFTA countries have become increasingly dissimilar over time. A changing spatial structure of total NAFTA manufacturing is also...

In this paper the Balassa steps of economic integration are first reviewed, and then extended to cover currernt integration configurations. Pre-conditions for each stage of integration are detailed using a backward-looking economic conditionality approach, and then both economic and political...