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RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS: WORKING PAPERS

Endowments, Power, and Democracy: Political Economy of Multilateral Commitments on Trade in Services

In spite of their growing importance in international trade as well as in bilateral and multilateral trade negotiations, services have only attracted limited attention from researchers interested in determinants of trade policies and commitments

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This paper draws from different approaches within the field of international political economy to try to explain why governments undertook different levels of market access commitments under the WTO's General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). The argument, which is supported by empirical analysis, suggests that democracy, relative power, relative endowments, and the WTO accessions process have a significant impact on multilateral commitments on trade in services.

No: ERSD-2009-07

Author:
 Martin ROY — WTO

Manuscript date: September 2009

Key Words:

trade in services, GATS, democracy, relative power, endowments, WTO accessions, determinants of cooperation, determinants of international commitments, international negotiations.

JEL classification numbers:

F5, F13, L8, D72

 
  

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This is a working paper, and hence it represents research in progress. This paper represents the opinions of the author, and is the product of professional research. It is not meant to represent the position or opinions of the WTO or its Members, nor the official position of any staff members. Any errors are the fault of the author. Copies of working papers can be requested from the divisional secretariat by writing to: Economic Research and Statistics Division, World Trade Organization, Rue de Lausanne 154, CH 1211 Geneva 21, Switzerland. Please request papers by number and title.

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