THE NEW NEO‐MERCANTILISM: CURRENCY MANIPULATION AS A FORM OF PROTECTIONISM

Three waves of mercantilism have arisen in the past few centuries. The first wave was countered by the classical economists. The second wave (neo‐mercantilism) hit during the inter‐war period. Today's third wave uses monetary policy. We explore the mercantilist waves and argue in favour of a free trade policy. We conclude that an international system of free banking best protects the economy from currency manipulation as a form of protectionism.     

完美货币与完美经济

没有完美的货币或者完美的经济组织形式。欧元和欧元区经济的问题,都是在全球化过程中所必须经历的阶段。一个好的经济体制,应该使＂国民生活水平＂最大化。但是,如果要具体到现实世界,＂生活水平最大化＂往往意味着很多,很可能意味着对其他经济体利益的侵蚀。本文从信用约束、经济一体化等角度,论述了欧元的使用对欧元区经济的益处;并指出了欧元使用带来的南欧国家财政赤字和贸易逆差问题。中国对外投资应该辩证地看待欧美经济体的长处和不足,合理配置外汇资产的比例。     

对中国外贸依存度的探讨

加入WTO以来，我国对外贸易进入高速发展时期，外贸依存度不断上升。外贸依存度过高受到越来越多的关注。不过我国目前的外贸依存度高是一个国家经济发展所必然经历的过程，从经济发展阶段来看，目前的数值是比较正常的，但从人民币一定程度上被低估来看，我国的外贸依存度也存在虚高。面对严峻的世界经济现状，我们要警惕过分依赖外贸来带动经济增长的风险，应通过各种措施，努力扩大内需，实施外贸多元化战略，加快产业结构调整，做好抵御潜在的困难局面对经济影响的风险。     

新贸易保护主义的新发展与中国的战略性贸易政策选择——基于弱势产业与贸易保护有效性的分析

本文在弱势产业划分与贸易保护有效性分析的基础上,探讨新贸易保护主义的新发展及其对中国进出口贸易的影响,分析我国的战略性贸易政策选择。本文认为:是否值得与能否对弱势产业进行贸易保护,在大国与小国的答案并不完全相同,可以利用大国规模经济效应提升弱势产业的比较竞争优势;对优势产业与“夕阳产业”同时进行保护、贸易保护的意识形态工具创新是新贸易保护主义新发展的主要特点;为了应对新贸易保护主义新发展对我国进出口贸易的冲击,必须制定符合我国国情的战略性贸易政策。     

反倾销的滥用及其贸易保护主义效应

近年来,反倾销这种对不正当竞争行为的补救措施出现了滥用的趋势。对反倾销措施的不正当使用使实施国的某些企业除受到保护之外,还可以获得额外的利益,而反倾销的目标国的企业则受到了严重的损害。这种滥用反倾销的行为日益受到各国的关注。这种滥用行为可以通过政府间的斡旋,诉诸争端解决机制,或谈判修订有关规则而得到制约。     

金融危机下贸易保护主义产生的新背景、新形式及新特点

自2008年金融危机全面爆发以来,贸易保护主义日益肆虐。分析和总结本次金融危机下贸易保护主义产生的新背景、新形式及新特点,将帮助我国企业更有效地应对贸易保护主义,从而使中国经济尽快从金融危机的笼罩下全面复苏。     

管理贸易、新贸易理论与产业政策

管理贸易理论和新贸易理论不仅具有同样的国际政治经济背景,而且在产业政策取向上具有类似的价值判断。文章首先比较了管理贸易理论和新贸易理论的异同点,然后阐述了两者在产业政策上的价值取向。本文认为,新贸易理论比管理贸易理论更具贸易保护倾向,管理贸易政策既没有抛弃传统贸易理论的精髓,又包容了GATT的原则,还兼顾了不同产业的特点,从而更受发达工业国家的青睐,也得到一些发展中国家的认同。     

The political economy of trade liberalization in developing countries

The paper addresses the issue of trade liberalization in developing countries from a political economy perspective using the theory of collective action. The role of collective action and interest group behavior is analysed critically both with respect to the initiation of attemps at liberalization and its outcome in terms of success or failure. A probit model is then used to test empirically the various hypotheses as to the determinants of likelihood of success of liberalization attempts. A sample of 51 liberalization episodes relating to 24 countries and spanning the period 1950–80 is used. Five factors are found to be critical in the process of liberalization: the strength of exporters groups as represented by the diversification and importance of manufactures and traditional exports, the strength of import-competing sector's opposition as measured by the share of manufacturing in GDP, the time elapsed since the beginning of import substitution, the size of country and the leadership committment and role.     

Protectionism in agriculture: Slow progress towards freer trade in agricultural products

Protectionism is widespread in agricultural trade. As a consequence, world markets are distorted and unstable. Earlier attempts to negotiate commodity agreements have failed to address the root problem: the domestic farm policies in industrial and middle-income countries. Constraints on these policies are now openly being discussed in the GATT Uruguay Round. Regional trade blocs are also coming to terms with the problems of agricultural trade. And a number of countries are unilaterally liberalizing agricultural trade as a part of their economic reform program. Despite this activity, high protection levels are still evident in the middle-income developed countries.