currently more than 2,000 BITs involving some 175 countries active around the world. These agreements cover a huge range of …

. We discuss whether the initiatives may mark the start of a new protectionist era. We argue that standard globalization … against the globalization process. We discuss the benefits of globalization benefits in terms of lower prices for consumers, a … greater inequalities and greater need for flexibility. Protectionism is a double-edged sword. Many historic episodes show that …