This paper examines this agenda and argues that if Brazil really wants to fully enjoy the growth and welfare benefits of trade, it needs to further lower and rationalize its structure of protection; adopt a more aggressive, World Trade Organization-plus, policy to open markets abroad; design a...

Most microeconometric studies available for LAC have focused on measuring the direct impact of trade on plant productivity leaving aside other effects that arise through the market selection process. Additionally, most studies have focused on tariff barriers as the only obstacle to international...

The purpose of this document is to inform Bank staff and other interested parties about recent developments in integration and trade among the countries of the Western Hemisphere and between these and other countries and world regions.

This paper revisits IIRSA's economic fundamentals, looking at the motivation behind regional integration, the importance of transport versus policy related trade costs, and the likely impact of the initiative on regional disparities and growth.

Preliminary estimates by the IDB indicate that the growth of Latin American exports in 2004 will be the highest in the last two decades, reaching 23 percent.