Protectionism in the European Union: Implications for Latin America

In the course of the 1990s EU exports to Latin American countries have grown considerably. At the same time, however, EU imports have increasingly favoured eastern Europe and the emerging Asian markets. Latin America continues to lose presence in European markets. What are the reasons for this? Is European protectionism the root of the problem?     

Intra-Industry Trade in Latin America and the Caribbean

An increasingly important component of total world trade is intra-industry trade (IIT). The large volume of literature on IIT is reflective of this importance. However, this extensive literature has focused almost completely on explaining the causes of IIT. This focus has left a puzzling gap in the literature. Specifically, it is almost impossible to determine the level of IIT for a particular country or region. Further, there is almost no information on the level of IIT at the industry level either globally or for a region or country. In this article we provide estimates of IIT for the world and for the countries of the Western Hemisphere. Further, we provide estimates of IIT for ten different SITC product categories on the same basis. The findings of the article indicate that in most industries, IIT in Latin America is substantially lower overall than the world average. There are, however, substantial variations observed both by country and by industry. Because the results are the first available for the region as a whole, they should allow researchers to get a better picture of the extent of IIT in Latin America and the Caribbean by country and by industry.     

Latin America and the European communities

The Latin American reaction to the Common Market of European industrial countries was from the outset marked by scepticism and criticism. It was only recently that new tendencies have been discerned which can perhaps lead to a partial improvement in the relations between EEC and Latin America.     

The case for debt-forgiveness for Latin America and the Caribbean countries

Resource transfer to Latin America and the Caribbean was negative throughouthe eighties. Debt-forgiveness would benefit not only the debtor countries, however. Lending countries and institutions would also stand to gain.     

The Effect of Corruption on Exports and Imports in Latin America and the Caribbean

International trade, in particular exports and imports, are regarded as important factors that can increase the economic development of the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries. However, little is known whether the ability of these countries to strengthen their global positions in trade can be affected by the pervasiveness of local corruption. The objective of this study is to analyze the impact of corruption on exports and imports in LAC countries. Our empirical results from the gravity model indicate that local corruption strongly reduces exports in the region. Thus, we conclude that LAC would be able to achieve more export growth if corruption in the region was effectively reduced.     

Anti‐competitive Practices and Liberalising Markets in Latin America and the Caribbean

The last ten years have seen many Latin American and Caribbean nations enact or reform competition laws, and numerous other jurisdictions are considering following suit. The evidential base to guide such policymaking is, however, limited. In this paper we have assembled two databases, one concerning allegations of anti‐competitive acts in newspaper articles and another concerning the relationship between competition‐related factors and the effects of reforms to liberalise markets, that may go some way to remedying this deficiency. In so doing, we have noticed a number of matters that producers and consumers of research in this area should probably bear in mind.     

Spatial Interdependence in US Outward FDI into Africa,Latin America and the Caribbean

The existing literature on spatial interdependence in FDI flows has primarily focused on developed economies as hosts, with these hosts economically tied together via good infrastructure and historically strong/significant trade flows. In contrast, we explicitly test for the presence of spatial interdependence in developing hosts (Africa, Latin American and the Caribbean) where such ties are not as strong. For US outbound FDI between 1995 and 2007, our empirical results confirm third‐country effects do matter even when controlling for spatial and time‐period fixed effects. Based on the signs of the market potential and spatial lag coefficients, we find US FDI strategies into these regions as consistent with complex vertical specialisation.     

Consumer education as a parameter of consumer action in Latin America and the Caribbean

This article is based on a research project carried out at the Regional IOCU Office in Montevideo in 1990 in order to outline a general framework for the development of consumer education in Latin America and the Caribbean. Even if consumer organizations cannot control all variants of consumer education to the same degree, this article will highlight the consumer policy aspect by considering consumer education as a parameter of consumer action. Using a social systems approach to consumer policy as a point of departure, a typology of consumer problems and consumer action is outlined, and two paradigms relevant as a metatheoretical framework for the development of consumer education are accentuated. Within this context two approaches to consumer education are set out. The contents and methodology of consumer education in the broader sense of the word are highlighted, and a teaching guideline based on this approach is specified in further detail.

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Verbrauchererziehung als ein Parameter von Verbraucheraktionen in Lateinamerika und der Karibik

Zusammenfassung Der Beitrag basiert auf einem Forschungsprojekt, das im Regionalbüro von IOCU in Montevideo im Jahr 1990 mit dem Ziel durchgeführt wurde, einen generellen Bezugsrahmen für die Entwicklung von Verbrauchererziehung in Lateinamerika und der Karibik zu entwickeln. Auch wenn Konsumentenorganisationen nicht alle Spielarten von Verbrauchererziehung gleichermaßen beeinflussen können, betont der Beitrag den verbraucherpolitischen Aspekt dadurch, daß er Verbrauchererziehung als einen Parameter von Verbraucheraktionen auffaßt. Ausgehend von einer Typologie von Konsumentenproblemen und Konsumentenaktionen werden zwei Paradigmen als metatheoretischer Bezugsrahmen für die Entwicklung von Konsumentenerziehung hervorgehoben; in diesem Zusammenhang werden zwei Ansätze für Verbrauchererziehung dargestallt. Inhalt und Methodik von Verbrauchererzidhung im weiteren Sinne des Wortes werden betont und anhand einer Unterrichtsrichtlinie exemplarisch erläutert.

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Hans Rask Jensen is an Associate Professor at the Southern Denmark Business School, College of Business Administration, Grundtvigs Allé 150, DK-6400 Sønderborg, Denmark.     

欧盟在华直接投资对中国与欧盟贸易的影响

本文运用面板数据的方法,研究了欧盟在华直接投资对中国与欧盟贸易的影响,结论表明,欧盟在华直接投资促进了中国对欧盟各成员国的进出口贸易,但影响较小,影响中、欧贸易的主要因素是中国和欧盟各成员国的经济实力(GDP)。这表明欧盟在华投资企业的市场战略主要是针对中国广阔的国内市场的。文章最后部分对如何促进欧盟对华直接投资和扩大中、欧贸易提出了建议。     

How Do Migrants from Latin America and the Caribbean Fare in the US Labour Market?

This paper discusses the causes of mass migration from Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) to the United States in recent decades and how these migrants have fared in US labour markets. The evidence shows that LAC migrants have higher unemployment rates and substantially lower wages than other immigrants and natives. Furthermore, the relative wages of LAC migrants have been declining sharply over the last 25 years. The most significant factor explaining the latter is the lower (and declining) educational attainment of LAC migrants relative to other immigrants and natives, compounded by the rising rates of return to education in the US.     

Chile：Close Tie between China and Latin America

Chile was the first country in South America to establish a diplomatic relationship with China more than 38 years ago.Since then,with the bilateral free trade agreement in place,Chile has become China＇s second-largest trading partner in Latin America,and China is currently Chile＇s largest trading partner in the world.In April of 2008,China and Chile signed the Supplementary Agreement on Trade in Services of the Free Trade Agreement between the Government of the People＇s Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Chile in Sanya, Hainan province.This was a historical milestone marking the longstanding relationship between China and Chile.To learn more about this bilateral relationship,China＇s Foreign Trade invited Mr.Mario I.Artaza,Director Commercial Office Trade Representative at the Beijing Embassy of Chile in China,to give us his point of view on the current business and economic environment that exists between these two countries.     

The European Monetary Union

The final stage of the European Monetary Union (EMU) is approaching; the single currency goes into effect on January 1, 1999. The article discusses the far-reaching ramifications of the euro in the context of the international monetary system. Current challenges facing the implementation of the new currency are addressed such as unemployment, high budget deficits, and general skepticism both EU members and non-members have expressed. The argument is made that acceptance and widespread use of the single currency will provide a framework for a deeper economic and political integration across Europe. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

The Fiscal Framework in a Currency Union: Lessons from a Comparison between the Euro Area and the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union

This paper draws out lessons from the euro area (EA) that are transferable to the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) and other Caribbean economies with fixed exchange rates. Based on observations from both the EA and the ECCU, we present a new policy framework which is capable of imposing fiscal discipline, with the aim of avoiding the risk of unsustainable fiscal policies reappearing and of preventing monetary policy from being undermined by undisciplined national governments. In the ECCU case, we find that fiscal deficits are more a result of financial and trade imbalances than fiscal indiscipline per se. Consequently, constraints on overall debt, public and private, rather than direct limits on endogenous public deficits, appear to be the appropriate response.     

拉丁美洲生意经

当前拉丁美洲国家具有多样化特色,并不强调同一性的拉丁美洲国家各有自己的特点,这是去拉丁美洲做生意的第一条提示。笔者在国内一家大型远洋贸易运输集团商务岗位上供职35年,多次奉命到拉丁美洲国家商务旅行,其中深切体会到,与拉丁美洲国家同行或者客户谈生意能否成     

Trade Integration and Revealed Comparative Advantages of Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America & Caribbean Merchandise Export

This study examined the revealed comparative advantage (RCA) of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and Latin America & Caribbean (LAC) on the export of five merchandise subsectors (during 1995 to 2010) using the World Development Indicators database. Despite improvements observed, SSA’s and LAC’s trade share and economic integration are low. LAC has stronger RCA than SSA in export of food items though the gap in their competitiveness is not wide. The SSA region has higher RCA in export of agricultural raw materials, fuel, and ores and metals than LAC. Both regions have revealed comparative disadvantage in the export of manufactures, though lesser in LAC.     

Ecuador,A Business Bridge between China and Latin America

The Republic of Ecuador lies in northwestern of South America,northeast to Colombia,adjacent to the southeast border with Peru,at the transborder equator of Northwest Pacific.Due to its special geographical location,it was the first stop that China reached to Latin American countries.In recent years,Ecuador and China have kept more and more close relationship in the fields of trade and tourism.To explore more cooperation opportunities in the future,China's Foreign Trade invited Mr.Jorge Hidalgo,Consulate-General of Ecuador in Shanghai,to have an exclusive interview with us.