International Institutions and Trade Liberalization: What has been the role of international institutions in promoting trade liberalization, and how successful have they been?
$2.95
economics
presentation
published 21/05/2008
review : Completed
level : General public
requested 0 times
When we look at the issue of trade liberalization and we question which international institutions have promoted it, we must ask what exactly is an international institution. In the formal sense, they are seen as an organization established by multiple national governments, usually to administer a program or pursue a purpose that the governments have agreed upon. (Deardoff, 2005) But in a more broad sense they can be understood as an organization or group with international ties or networks. If we were working with the former definition, we would include institutions such as the UN, IMF, GATT, G8 and OPEC. Working with the latter definition, however, we would have to include the aforementioned groups as well as supranational and regional organizations and areas, such as the European Common Market, NAFTA, and FTAOA as well as NGOs, public pressure groups and TNCs. For the purpose of this essay, I will use the category of international institutions to characterize the first grouping of organizations, relying on Deardoffs definition and thus including the UN, IMF, GATT, G8, OPEC and so forth.
Table of Contents
- There are many international institutions and organizations that play a role in shaping and influencing international trade.
- The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
- The IMF describes itself as an organization of 184 countries.
- Much controversy surrounds the free trade debate due to an uneven distribution of advantages and gains.
- The view on international institutions and organizations and their role in trade.
