Between 1550 and 1800 the Northern Netherlands went through a period of intense economic development. This did not leave the surrounding regions untouched. International trade blossomed, tens of thousands of foreign workers found employment in the Netherlands and many millions of guilders were...

Massive social changes have brought prosperity to many groups and nations. Technological developments continue to facilitate the transformation of our lives. More employees are working in teams connected technologically throughout the world. Many have participated in some times disconnected...

Key Features:It has a series of chapters on the European experience, and how they might apply to new regional initiatives in East AsiaIt includes an extensive documentation and analysis of East Asian integration proposals and analyzes their respective economic and political meritsSome chapters...

This volume is the outgrowth of a conference held at Peking Universityin May 2002, jointly sponsored by the American Committee on AsianEconomic Studies, the Peking University School of Economics, and theChina Reform Forum. The contributors include leading scholars fromAsia as well as specialists...

Intro -- Contents -- Cover -- Title -- Foreword ix -- Acknowledgments xiii -- The Research Project and Team xv -- 1. Regional Integration Agreements 1 -- 2. Politics and Policymaking 11 -- 3. Economic Benefits and Costs 29 -- 4. Policy Choices 63 -- 5. Trade Blocs and the World Trading System 93...

The enlargement of the European Union towards the East from May 2004 has generated an increase of about 100 million inhabitants in the EU population, and has especially brought along major challenges and important opportunities both for the "new" countries and for the "old" member states. That...

With the need to handle persisting problems and conflicts from the past while coping with new economic and political structures, Southeast Europe proves to be a challenging yet fruitful testing ground for establishing a long-term process of social and economic integration. This volume provides a...

This newly revised and updated second edition is the classic economic and political account of the origins of the European Community. On one level it is an original analysis of the forces which brought the EC together, on another it is an explanation based on historical analysis of the future...

This book includes up-to-date studies of regional integration efforts in all major parts of the world, especially North America, South America and East Asia. In many cases these efforts are compared with the EU, where integration has progressed much further. Some important questions are asked:...

Key Features:Focuses exclusively on regional trade agreements (RTAs)Takes a novel approach by combining theory and implementation, supported by empirical evidenceProvides an exhaustive account of major RTAs and serves as a valuable and credible information source on international trade agreements.