Strong opinions about the impact of globalization on poverty are not always backed by robust factual evidence. As argued in this paper, however, it is not all that easy to lay our hands on ‘robust’ facts. Quantitative analyses of trade liberalization appear highly sensitive to basic...

Central America has received growing attention as a region that is integrating successfully into the global economy. This paper examines—among other things—the macroeconomic and fiscal implications of the Free Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA-DR), noting that the...

Congo's vital dependence on trade for development stands in contradiction with its trade policy. As a member of the CEMAC, Congo's tariff scheme at least formally is guided by CEMAC's 1994 trade regime agreement. This paper shows CEMAC's customs code is restrictive relative to that of comparable...

This paper reviews major issues involved in achieving the objectives of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). Using a simple framework for evaluation, the analysis highlights considerations relevant to policymakers in the areas of poverty reduction, macroeconomic policies, trade...

This paper on recent developments and regional policy issues in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) discusses the recent development and trends in economic integration. Trade restrictions and an uneven application of CEMAC rules constrain external and intraregional trade....

The small states of the Asia and Pacific region face unique challenges in raising their growth potential and living standards relative to other small states due to their small populations, geographical isolation and dispersion, narrow export and production bases, exposure to shocks, and heavy...

RESUMEN:La historia de la Integración económica en América Latina ha cumplido cuarentaaños, casi el mismo periodo de la exitosa Unión Europea, sin embargo en esta regiónel proceso ha sido un permanente ensayo y error, volviendo en ocasiones a recomenzar,como es el caso de la ALALC, que no...

The importance of the economic borders of the nations is diminishing continuously, and this phenomenon is strongly linked to regionalization and globalization. We consider that the starting point of the idea that economic borders (represented by nations’ commercial policies) are irrelevant for...

This paper analyses the impact of the timing of EU expansion on the real exchange rate between the accession countries' currencies and the euro. I ¯nd that the real exchange rate response to EU accession is smaller in the case of a postponed accession, as postponement gives the regions more...

Eastern enlargement of the EU promises gains, but also imposes fiscal costs on incumbent countries. A sensitive issue concerns immigration, jobs and wages. We address these issues in a general equilibrium framework, both analytically and through numerical simulations. Analytical results identify...