What I will try to cover in this memo is first a brief summary of what I call the regional domino policy of the U.S. to provide the background to the origins of the FTAA. I will then review the main features of the transformed political economy of the global trading system in the WTO, including...

This work presents a case study on solid waste management in the city of Rio de Janeiro. This privately-owned initiative involves the application of market instruments to boost the recycling of used plastic bottles.Abstract: Este trabajo presenta un estudio de caso exitoso implementado en la...

In this paper, we use a panel approach to study population growth in major cities around the world. We find that major cities grow faster in relatively backward economies and in more volatile, faster-growing economies. We also find that the effects of trade policy on the growth of major cities...

This paper explores whether the level of financial integration of banks in a country increases the incidence of systemic banking crises. The paper uses a de facto proxy for financial integration based on network statistics of banks participating in the global market of interbank syndicated...

This document discusses the impact of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and their effect on the pattern of trade. Specifically, this document addresses trade liberalization, preferential tariff liberalization, and obstacles to market access liberalization. This document is based on chapter 3 of the...

The objective of this paper is to contribute to mapping the plausible scenarios for trade negotiations involving the Latin American and Caribbean countries.Abstract: La intensidad y complejidad de la agenda de negociaciones comerciales a la que se enfrentan desde comienzos de la década de 1990...

This paper studies the impact of trade liberalization on labor and capital gross flows and productivity in the Uruguayan manufacturing sector. Uruguay opened its economy in the presence of -at least initially- strong unions and structurally different industry concentration levels. Higher...

In the last 15 years or so Mercosur countries have implemented trade liberalization reforms both unilaterally and at regional level. These reforms have been successful in promoting overall trade flows, but not so much with respect to exports to developed countries. This is particularly the case...

This paper examines the impact of the recent wave of trade liberalization and economic reform on employment. Four alternative measures of openness and four measures of the real exchange rate are used to measure the impact of trade reforms on manufacturing and economy-wide employment. Across a...

This study sheds light on how Costa Rica's insertion in global value chains occurs by examining governance patterns, the type of activities involved, and the level of underlying innovation in the selected value chain. The paper describes in detail two case studies of electronic-related companies...