M. Reda Bhacker looks at the role of Oman in the Indian Ocean prior to British domination of the region. Omani merchant communities played a crucial part in the development of commercial activity throughout the territories they held in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, especially between Muscat and Zanzibar, using long established trade networks. They were also largely responsible for the integration of the commerce of the Indian Ocean into the nascent global capitalist system.

The author, himself a member of an important Omani merchant family, looks in detail at the complex relationship between the merchant community and Oman's rulers, first the Ya'ariba and then the Albusaidis. He analyses the tribal and religious dynamics of Omani politics both in Arabia, where he looks especially at the Wahhabi/Saudi threat, and in Oman's sprawling empire', with particular reference to Zanzibar where the Omani ruler Sa'id b Sultan had his court from 1840. His aim is to consider all Oman's overseas territories as a single entity, without the usual misleading compartmentalisation of African and Arab history.

Dr Bhacker finds that despite their prestige and influence in the region neither the merchant communities nor the government were able to respond to Britain's determined onslaught. Bhacker traces the local and regional factors that allowed Britain to destroy Oman's largely commercial challenge and to emerge by the end of the nineteenth century as the commercially and politically dominant power in the region.

What role does the EU play in WTO trade negotiations? What are the implications for the EU of the expansion of the international trade agenda that has taken place in the last fifteen years? The European Union and Multilateral Trade Governance examines the EU's role in global economic governance and the negotiations of the Doha Round. The book provides a comprehensive overview of the EU's role in the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations. The empirical study is grounded in a theoretically driven discussion, in order to understand trade politics dynamics in the present international economic system. By providing both conceptual and empirical arguments, the volume provides an innovative perspective on the analysis of the EU as a global economic influence. The European Union and Multilateral Trade Governance will be of interest to students and scholars of European Union politics and international political economy.

This collection of 13 essays deals with a range of topics concerning Portuguese, Dutch and Chinese merchants, commodities and commerce in maritime Asia in the early modern period from c. 1585-1800. They are based on exhaustive research and careful analysis of diverse sets of archival materials found around the globe. Written by a leading authority on global maritime economic history and the history of European Expansion, each individual essay addresses a topic of fundamental importance to those interested in knowing more about what merchants did (with which resources and under what conditions) and how they did it, what were the commodities that were incorporated into local, regional, intra-regional and global economies, and what was the role and function of early modern maritime trade and commerce in economic development in general and especially in Asia in the early modern era, from c. 1585-1800. A number of them, in particular, relate the individual or collective merchant experience to specific European (Portuguese and Dutch) imperial projects and their contestation amongst themselves and their indigenous neighbours over portions of the period. Collectively, they form an exposition of a utilitarian view of human activity under a wide-ranging different set of circumstances and conditions but with similar patterns of behaviors and responses that are largely independent from ethnic, racial or religious stereotyping. The work therefore should raise new issues and avenues of research concerning these agents and objects in European Expansion, Asian and Global History.

First published in 1904, this important economic work explores some of the leading principles underlining the development of international trade. Hobson offered a departure from the conventional treatment of international trade in economic theory, simplifying concepts of free trade, exchange and tariffs and considering the practical application of theory in a manner accessible to the reader.

Fair and ethical trade is often criticized for being highly gendered, and for institutionalizing the ethical values of consumers, the priorities of NGOs and governments, and most of all, food retailers. But little is known about how women smallholder farmers experience diverse ethical standards, or whether and how standards reflect their values, local cultural and environmental contexts, or priorities for achieving sustainable livelihoods. Linking gender, smallholder livelihoods and global ethical trade regulations, this book reveals that multiple understandings of social justice, environmental sustainability and well-being - or ethicality - exist in parallel to those institutionalized in ethical trade schemes. Through an in-depth case study of smallholder subsistence and French bean farming in Kenya, the book grounds the analysis of livelihoods, gender and ethical trade in women smallholders' perspectives, links the macro level of markets with the micro level of livelihoods, and engenders relations of power, structure and agency in food networks. It brings together disparate bodies of theory to illustrate the knowledge, strategies and values of women smallholder farmers that are often beyond the scope of ethical trade regulations. It also provides a challenging new vision for doing food systems research.

The importance of the institutional dimensions to international trade law over the last decades is brought to light in this volume of previously published articles. The collection focuses on the World Trade Organization (WTO), the most important institution in international trade, and includes a selection of key contributions to the field. The approach is multi-disciplinary, encompassing mostly law, but also political science and economics, and the issues addressed are significant and diverse: the overall legitimacy and effectiveness of the WTO, the relationship between legal and judicial branches of the WTO, the path to membership in the organization, the WTO's institutional complex of councils, committees and panels, the role of the WTO secretariat, and the relationship between the WTO and regional trade frameworks. The combined strengths of the articles in the collection, which reveals a dynamic, multi-layered and complex institutional structure, make this volume of special importance to students and practitioners of international trade or international relations.

China's historic accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in November 2001 not only represents an important milestone in the country's transition to a market economy and integration into the global economy, but is also among the most important events in the history of the WTO and the multilateral trading system. China and Global Trade Governance: China's First Decade in the World Trade Organization provides us with some fresh empirical data to assess the country's behaviour in the liberal international economic regime. Such an assessment is both timely and necessary as it can help us better understand China's role in the evolving structure of global economic governance, in addition to shedding light on the broader debate about the implications of the rise of China for the international system. Through a thorough examination of China's WTO compliance record and its experience in multilateral trade negotiations, this book seeks to better understand the sources of constraints on China's behaviour in the multilateral trade institution as well as the country's influence on the efficacy of the World Trade Organization. In doing so, this project speaks directly to the following questions raised by China's unprecedented ascent in the international system: Is China a rule maker, rule follower, or rule breaker in international regimes? Is Beijing a responsible stakeholder capable of making positive contributions to global trade governance in the long-term?

Trade, Competition and Domestic Regulatory Policy presents a unique combination of analysis of both international trade and investment policies, and competition and regulatory policies. Increasingly, policymakers, businesses and the law and economics professions need to better understand how changes and policy developments in international trade and competition developed and how their interaction impacts on global business. In addition to providing a comprehensive analysis of the attempts of international trade theory and practice to deal with tariffs, non-tariff barriers, market distortions and failures to protect various kinds of property rights, this book contains a detailed treatment of how property rights protection, including intangible property rights are a critical element of ensuring open trade and competitive markets. It examines how these rights have developed over time, and how they have been integrated into trade and competition policy. This book will be of significant interest to students of international business, professors of economics, law and business, and policymakers at the intersection of trade, investment, competition and property rights.

First published in 1952, this work is a systematic exposition of Professor Meade's geometric method, bringing together into a single coherent account the modern geometrical analysis of the theory of international trade. The work makes a number of original contributions, notably in the geometrical treatment of domestic production, of the balance of payments, and of import and export duties.

Analyses the main institutional and policy determinants of the foreign trade behaviour of a centrally planned economy and studies factors that affect the level and pattern of foreign trade.

In this engaging new study, John D. Wong examines the Canton trade networks that helped to shape the modern world through the lens of the prominent Chinese merchant Houqua, whose trading network and financial connections stretched from China to India, America and Britain. In contrast to interpretations that see Chinese merchants in this era as victims of rising Western mercantilism and oppressive Chinese traditions, Houqua maintained a complex balance between his commercial interests and those of his Western counterparts, all in an era of transnationalism before the imposition of the Western world order. The success of Houqua and Co. in configuring its networks in the fluid context of the early nineteenth century remains instructive today, as the contemporary balance of political power renders the imposition of a West-centric world system increasingly problematic, and requires international traders to adapt to a new world order in which China, once again, occupies center stage.

As Secretary General of the ICF and previously Assistant General Secretary of the IMF, Charles Levinson played an important part in developing the countervailing labour response to the multinational corporations. His earlier work, Capital, Inflation and the Multinationals (Routledge Revivals, 2013) displayed the force of his insight into the dynamics of modern economics and technology. First published in 1972, this book considers the opportunities which allow unions to command an increasing share in decisions that shape the worker's destiny. Chapters include discussions on the multinational corporations, industrial democracy and the ideas behind collective bargaining.

When this work was first published in 1966, there was much interest in various types of commodity agreements and compensatory financing as methods of reducing the effects of export fluctuations on the economies of developing countries. The book concluded that short term fluctuations in export earnings, though perhaps important for some countries, did not appear to be the general problem that had been assumed. If correct, it would suggest that any measures should be carefully designed to fit the situations of countries that were affected and be subjected to cost-benefit analysis. This led to many published and unpublished studies on the issues: some supported, others contradicted the book's conclusions. The data available now are vastly greater and probably more accurate than pre-1966. However, the work and the issues it raised remain important because most schemes proposed to reduce export instability would be costly and likely to divert resources from uses more obviously aimed at raising economic development in most developing countries.

This is the first English translation of Benedetto Cotrugli's The Book of the Art of Trade, a lively account of the life of a Mediterranean merchant in the Early Renaissance, written in 1458. The book is an impassioned defense of the legitimacy of mercantile practices, and includes the first scholarly mention of double-entry bookkeeping. Its four parts focus respectively on trading techniques, from accounting to insurance, the religion of the merchant, his public life, and family matters. Originally handwritten, the book was printed in 1573 in Venice in an abridged and revised version. This new translation makes reference to the new critical edition, based on an earlier manuscript that has only recently been discovered. With scholarly essays placing Cotrugli's work into historical context and highlighting key themes, this volume is an important contribution to our understanding of the origins of management and trade practices.

As the world continues to recover from one of the most dramatic financial crises in a generation, expanding corporations are increasingly, yet cautiously, seeking out international investment opportunities. At the heart of this fragile investment recovery lie trust and confidence. With an unprecedented number of investment promotion agencies and economic development organisations now competing for the attention and business of a more cautious and discerning investor audience, smart approaches to strategic differentiation, communication, engagement and investment services are becoming increasingly critical if these agencies and organisations are to succeed. At the same time, transparent and responsible approaches to investment, coupled with effective, compelling advocacy, are increasingly important to the success of companies' investment projects. Daniel Nicholls' Foreign Direct Investment offers an exploration of some of the key trends, issues and practices that are shaping the global FDI landscape. Along the way he provides insight into how economic developers and investors alike can make the most of their opportunities and mitigate reputational and communications challenges that can impede or hinder a successful investment. By presenting perspectives and priorities from both sides, Daniel Nicholls' book bridges the 'investment gap' by giving its readers an important insight into what matters to the other side. This book represents a smart investment for anyone involved.

Drawing on a wide variety of classic and contemporary sources, respected authors Trebilcock and Howse here provide a critical analysis of the institutions and agreements that have shaped international trade rules. In light of the growing debate over globalization, they include special sections examinations of topics such as:

* agriculture
* services and trade-related intellectual property rights
* labor rights
* the environment
* migration.
*competition

Drawing on previous highly praised editions, this comprehensive text is an invaluable guide to students of economics, law, politics and international relations. Now fully updated, this fourth edition includes full coverage of new developments including the Doha trade round, the proliferation of preferential trade agreements, the debate on trade, climate change and green energy, the response of the trading system to the 2007-2010 financial and economic crisis, the controversy over trade and exchange rate manipulation, and the growing body of WTO dispute resolution case law.

This volume provides a state of the art review of current thinking on the full range of trade policy issues, addressing the economic and political dimensions of international trade policy. The volume contains a systematic examination of: - specific trade policy instruments (such as tariffs, non-tariff barriers and trade rules) - sectoral concerns (in agriculture, manufacturing and services) - trade linkages (to issues such as the environment and labour standards) - systemic considerations (what role for the WTO?) The organising theme of the volume is that open markets for trade and investment yield large potential gains in human welfare as long as trade policy is conducted as an integral part of broader domestic economic management and regulatory reform, and as long as the particular challenges facing developing countries are effectively addressed. This 'case' is presented on the basis of rigorous analysis of first principles and of empirical experience among key trading nations. An integrated set of original and comprehensive perspectives from a diverse group of experts, linked by a common organisational thread. The contributing authors create an ideal mix of internationally recognised experts together with younger specialists making their mark in trade policy analysis; academics as well as trade policy practitioners; and representatives of both developed and developing countries.

We are constantly being told that globalisation is good for the economy and good for us, but it's actually the opposite, argues bestselling author Jeff Rubin in this provocative, timely book. In the pre-coronavirus world, governments and economists bragged that GDP was growing and unemployment was down. But even then, real wages had been stagnant for decades, union membership had collapsed, and full-time employment no longer guaranteed you could pay the bills. When we emerge from the virus, it would be nice to think that living in a country that's getting richer means that you're getting richer too, but that's not the way it works anymore. Falling tariffs, low interest rates, global deregulation, and tax policies that benefit only the rich have all had the same effect: the erosion of the 'expendable' middle class. The result, growing global inequality, is a problem of our own making. And solving it won't be easy if we draw on the same ideas about capital and labour, right and left, that led us to this cliff. Articulating a vision that, remarkably, dovetails with the ideas of both Naomi Klein and Donald Trump, The Expendables is an exhilaratingly fresh perspective that is at once humane and irascible, fearless and rigorous.

Most of the existing textbooks on international economics - a widely taught and ighly popular subject - are long and too detailed and advanced for many students. This book, first published in 1983, and written by a respected leading authority, presents the essentials of the topic in a simple and straightforward way. The book contains the minimum of algebra and avoids detailed proofs. It incorporates the most recent theoretical advances and discusses current issues in comercial policy. Moreover, it puts less emphasis than other textbooks on trade theory and more on balance of payments theory and on questions of international finance and international finance anf international monetarism which are the areas of current concern.

Trade impacts on the lives of all global citizens, influencing the range of commodities available for consumption and where those commodities are produced. Driven increasingly by market exchange, trade shapes the nature of work and how the costs and benefits of that work are distributed around the world. Economic growth and development are closely associated with the flows of goods and services between countries. International Trade: The Basics offers an accessible and engaging introduction to contemporary debates on international trade, inviting readers to explore the connections between national political economies within a globally integrated world.

Topics covered include:

Why nations trade

Globalization and transnational production networks

Transnational governance

The emergence of Asia as a major trade region

Ethical trade and environmental sustainability

Trade in solar energy, services and ideas.

Featuring case studies and social media links that help to illustrate key concepts, this book is an essential read for anyone seeking to understand how trade varies between regions, affects relationships between countries and influences a country’s social, political and economic life.

Table of Contents

List of figures

List of tables

List of boxes

1 Introduction

The growth of trade

History of trade

Globalization and contemporary trade patterns

Objective of the book

Outline of the book

2 Trade theory

Comparative advantage

The Heckscher–Ohlin model

The Stolper–Samuelson theorem

Leontieff’s Paradox

Terms of trade

New trade theory: economies of scale and imperfect competition in trade models

New, new trade theory: global outsourcing

3 Transnational corporations, trade and the global economy

Origins of TNCs and why firms internationalize

The growth of transnational corporations

Global production networks and commodity value chains

Capturing value in global production networks

TNCs and trade

4 Trade governance

Institutional theories

GATT and WTO

Geography of trade: integration and regional trade agreements

Is geography destiny? Regionalism and regional economic integration

5 Trade and development

Dynamic comparative advantage

Unequal exchange

Import-substitution and export promotion

Asian flying geese

6 Impact of trade

Special economic zones

Impact on labor

Trade and labor standards

Trade, jobs and wages

Ethical trade

Environment and sustainability

Environmental policy and trade agreements

7 Conclusion

Trends and directions

Glossary

Bibliography

Index

First published in 2005. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Advances in digital technology have driven large decreases in the costs of data transfer and telecommunications. There is a consequent increase in many kinds of international trade. One of the fastest-growing parts of this industry is "remote maintenance" whereby Indian companies debug software for companies in other parts of the world, often taking advantage of time zone differences to offer overnight service.

In the existing literature on trade theory, however, relatively few attempts have been made to address the theme of communications networks and the role of time zones. The main purpose of this book is to illustrate, with simple models of international trade, how the introduction of communications networks and the utilization of time zone differences can affect both the structure of international trade and world welfare. Other technological aspects of recent international trade (e.g., competition between international standards, the impact of switching costs on imported products? introduction) are also examined.

Although a focus on theoretical trade models, the book will appeal to scholars, policy makers and business units who wish to learn from the recent changes in communications networks and its impact on the global economy. It provides information and suggestions for better policy formulation in the fast-changing world economy.

This Palgrave Pivot explores how communication technology such as the Internet has changed the nature of trade, focusing especially on economy-wide reductions in company size (granularity) and the role of retailers (disintermediation). By increasing access to comparative data, influencing conceptions of time, and reducing the number of intermediaries between creator and consumer, technological connectivity is changing the very definition of competition. In the new network economy, disintermediation and granularity are turning cooperative information gathering and sharing into a vital market institution. To exemplify the effects of communication technology, Bhatt focuses on two markets with particularly powerful effects on the economy: labor and education, and CIME (communication, information services, media, and entertainment). Mobile connectivity is radically changing the extent, capabilities, and operations of these markets, both in terms of the services they provide and how they interact with consumers. Bhatt also explores how these benefits intersect with new concerns about privacy and security when the line between public and private information is becoming ever more fluid.

The main research problem addressed in the book is the one regarding the role that export diversification could play for enhancing economic growth in Colombia, both in terms of new products and new geographic markets. The underlying motivation for centering the analysis on the European Union's market are manifold, reaching from the evident concentration of exports - both in terms of composition and markets- that Colombia still shows, to the small amount of empirical studies analyzing the current status and potentialities of the commercial relations between Colombia and the European Union.