TRICONTINENTAL SERIES ON GLOBAL ECONOMIC ISSUES – serie

This book sets out techniques for using general equilibrium numerical trade models and their application for both researchers and practitioners in governmental and international agencies. The chapters are connected by the broader theme of application of general equilibrium computational methods to a range of policy and other issues involving the global economy and international trade. They reflect a long evolution in method and application from the early 1970's until today.The chapters include procedures that allow a competitive equilibrium in international trade with tariffs to be calculated. Results of calculations of optimal tariffs with and without retaliation in a sequence of simplified two-good, two-country trade models are provided. A numerical general equilibrium model of international trade involving major world trading blocs (the United States, Japan, the EEC and the Rest of the World) is used to analyze the effects of alternative tariff-cutting formulae proposed by the major participants in the Tokyo Round negotiations under the GATT.

This book presents a comprehensive view of recent developments in the theory of international trade agreements and political economy, by focusing on research by Raymond Riezman. This pioneering work introduced terms of trade effects and strategic behavior to the theory of international trade agreements. This is complemented by a careful analysis of how politics affects international trade agreements.The book brings together work which focuses on the question of why international trade agreements occur and what forms they take.

This book aims at assessing the potential impacts of China's macro economic, trade, exchange rate and reserve management policies for industrial structure and performance. It uses data analysis and econometric methods applied to recent Chinese data. It has a special focus on the performance of the Chinese economy both during and after the 2008 global financial crisis. The book will be of interest to researchers and practitioners in governmental and international agencies both in China and outside of the country.

The year 2015 will be a landmark year for international climate change negotiations. Governments have agreed to adopt a universal legal agreement on climate change at the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris in 2015. The agreement will come into force no later than 2020.This book focuses on the prospects for global agreement, how to encourage compliance with any such agreement and perspectives of key players in the negotiations — the United States, India, China, and the EU. It finds that there is strong commitment to the established UN institutions and processes within which the search for further agreed actions will occur. There are already a myriad of local and regional policies that are helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build mutual confidence. However, the chapters in the book also highlight potential areas of discord. For instance, varying interpretations of the “common but differentiated responsibilities” of developing countries, agreed as part of the UNFCCC, could be a major sticking point for negotiators. When combined with other issues, such as the choice of consumption or production as the basis for mitigation commitments, the appropriate time frame and base date for their measurement and whether level or intensity commitments are to be negotiated, the challenges that need to be overcome are considerable. The authors bring to bear insights from economics, public finance and game theory.