Safeguards and voluntary export restraints under the World Trade Organization: The case of Japan's vegetable trade

Though the WTO agreement of safeguards prohibits VERs, WTO members can still use VERs without formal intergovernmental agreements. Our theoretical analysis shows that the fear of invoking a safeguard measure by an importing country on a good can induce a disruptive exporter of the good to enforce such a VER under certain conditions (for example, if the number of exporting country is not large). Our empirical analysis, using Japan's first safeguard actions as a case study, suggests that if producers of an exporting country capture an export market and if there is a large drop in their export price, the producers seeing a growing threat of safeguards will enforce such VERs. Our results highlight the need for amendments to the WTO Agreement on Safeguards.     

The challenge by domestic enterprises to the transnational corporations' domination: A case study of the Argentine pharmaceutical industry

Given the relative reduction in the rate of innovation of the large TNCs operating in the pharmaceutical field and the reduced interest in the Argentine market by most of the TNCs in the late 1960s and the early 1970s, domestic firms have been able to challenge the domination of the pharmaceutical industry by foreign enterprises. Using the techniques of product differentiation, they have been able to launch more new medicines into the market than foreign enterprises. This was done through transfer of technology agreements in a number of cases, relying on non-patented sources for the provision of active components in other cases and devoting some resources to local R and D. As a result of the challenge, foreign participation in the market for finished products in Argentina was not high by international standards (57% in 1972), the majority of the pharmaceutical sub-markets showed a medium degree of business concentration and the ranking of the leading firms included 6 local enterprises among the 15 leaders of the country.     

Towards accommodationist planning in South Africa's secondary centres: The case of hawker deregulation

International development agencies are devoting increased attention to the role of secondary or intermediate cities in national urban development strategies. In planning the development of intermediate‐sized centres, stress is placed on the need to support indigenous enterprise, including the informal sector. Against a background review of literature concerning the informal sector within secondary cities, this paper examines the extent to which a group of South Africa's intermediate‐sized cities are pursuing programmes supporting the informal sector. The question of policies towards hawking is investigated within the settings of East London, Kimberley, Bloemfontein, Pietersburg and Pietermaritzburg. It is concluded that accommodationist planning is being undertaken on only a limited scale in these secondary centres.     

The brain drain tax proposal: A lawyer's view

This paper examines, in the context of the UK, the idea that DCs should not only collect but also impose a special tax on PTKs who have left LDCs and settled in DCs. Such a proposal is not unconstitutional: nor does it clearly offend international human rights obligations. Furthermore, the UK tax system already discriminates in a number of ways. However, since the tax would largely affect blacks this could make it politically objectionable (as being racially discriminatory) unless the rationales justifying the tax are clearly defined.The major difficulties for the UK are administrative. While not insuperable, they are very severe, and could affect the practical feasibility of the tax. A search for alternatives should be considered.     

Investment planning and the macroeconomic constraints in developing countries: The case of the Syrian Arab Republic

In this paper a disaggregated macro-econometric model of the Syrian Arab Republic was developed to evaluate the structural characteristics of an economy and to assess the macro-economic impacts of alternative economic policies, particularly alternative investment programs. By the model simulation, alternative investment programs and their effects on economic growth were evaluated in the light of various macro-economic disequilibria, such as government deficits, inflation, unemployment, and external imbalance resulting from investment expenditures.     

Development planning in The Gambia: The gap between planners' and farmers' perceptions,expectations and objectives

This paper challenges the prevalent view that irrigation development largely depends on engineering, agricultural and managerial inputs and argues with reference to Gambian irrigation projects that new technologies may be adapted by farmers in ways that are incompatible with planners' objectives. The conclusion is that planners need to give greater attention to the organization and control of production and consumption within the household. This would require a change in attitudes among many planners, the recruitment of more social scientists into planning teams, and greater co-operation between planners, farmers of all socio- economic categories and extension agents.     

Pakistan's development: An overview

This is the text of two lectures given in the summer of 1980, one at the Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad, and the other at the National Defense College, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. The lectures attempted to identify some non-economic determinants of Pakistan's economic performance since the standard economic explanations are not very satisfactory for analysing the country's rather erratic performance over the last three decades. The lectures reviewed Pakistan's economic history from 1947, the time of independence, to 1977, when political power moved once again from a civilian government to a military regime. The lectures underscored the importance of the nature of external economic development, the extent of government commitment to development and the level of participation in economic management as important determinants of economic performance. One of the important conclusions reached was that the governments in the Third World must pay heed to these factors in planning for the difficult times that lie ahead.     

China's economic system reform: Underlying factors and prospects

Three important determinants of economic growth in the Chinese context are: the motivation of economic units, the absorption of foreign technology and its diffusion and agricultural productivity. The Stalin model of the 1950s served China well, especially when sustained by ‘Chinese sub-models’ such as ties of trust with rural brigades, workers' innovation etc. After that investment effectiveness declined, and today the structural changes necessary point to the need to alter existing institutions which have become obsolete. In agriculture, the use of cash inputs is more common now and a sense of economic efficiency is increasingly required. Care should be taken in comparing China with East European countries given that China's per capita gross domestic product is much lower as is the percentage of agricultural output reaching the market. The comprehensiveness of the economic reform likely in China means that it will only be possible to judge it over a time horizon longer than five years. For such economic reforms to be wholly successful, they need to continue to incorporate Chinese ‘sub-models’ mentioned in the paper and must develop a network of supplying industries and inter-dependent factories.     

Development planning in the third world education in Botswana: A case study

Development planning is regarded as essential for advancement in the Third World. This article discusses planning in Botswana, specifically in the area of education. The economic and educational developments in Botswana are described.

The process of development planning is discussed under a number of headings, namely the administration of development planning Botswana; drawing up a development plan; and implementing the plan.

The hypothesis that planning, to some extent, arises from compromises that in turn result from conflicts among the planners, is discussed. Examples are given to illustrate this. The article argues that conflicts will increase as financial constraints become more important in Botswana.     

Pharmaceuticals in the third world: The problem from the suppliers' point of view

The situation of pharmaceuticals in the developing world is considered from a supplier's point of view and industry's declared supportive role to WHO's Action Programme for Essential Drugs is discussed. The possible conflicting goals of developing countries' desire to have drugs available at the lowest possible price and their desire for industrialization and self-sufficiency is examined. Comments are made about the industry's pre-eminent role in research and development and its continuing commitment to R and D for tropical diseases. The importance of patents and brand-names is considered and the significance of the IFPMA Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices is described.