While the WTO process of multilateral trade liberalization encounters increasing resistance, in part because the most difficult issues have finally risen to the top of the agenda, market-based forces are contributing to international economic integration. One of the most potent are cross-border...

The world economy has become more open and integrated in recent years. Countries are more engaged in international trade and the importance of tradables relative to non-tradables in national output is rising everywhere. Capital flows more freely among countries and workers cross borders more...

A feature of the continuing integration of the world economy is the globalization of production and the consequent rise of trade in parts and components. Products are more internationalized and less identified with any particular country. Non-trivial shares of the value-added of many exports...