Edwards, T. Huw (2007) Current issues in trade policy. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

The articles in this thesis reflect my work at the Centre for Study of Globalisation and Regionalisation in Warwick, centred around two EU-funded projects: one relating globalisation to social exclusion, and the second looking at the re-integration of the Central and Eastern European transition economies into the main European economy. The papers in this thesis are seen as new contributions. Chapter 1 is introductory, consisting of a brief literature survey outlining a number of important debates. This is followed by a summary of the contributions of the papers in subsequent chapters. Chapter 2, written with John Whalley, is a general equilibrium decomposition of the widening wage gap in the United Kingdom, utilising novel techniques of double calibration. The underlying question is the degree to which widening inequality reflects a change in world traded prices following liberalisation. Chapters 3 and 4 refer to regional integration. In Chapter 3 I look specifically at the likely effects of admitting several new Central and Eastern European countries to the European Single Market, using a general equilibrium model combining the new trade theory and the gravity model approach. Chapter 4 is more theoretical, examining the perceived misuse of regulatory protection in determining national product standards - in this case, in a cross-hauling duopoly. It is shown that several conclusions of the recent literature regarding the trade volume effects of regulation and the welfare effects of mutual recognition agreements, may be misleading. In Chapter 5 I delve into a new issue in trade theory: namely the implications of imperfect information, matching, search and networking. This chapter indicates a possible direction in which trade theory needs to move to better understand the growing outsourcing trade, and also draws important theoretical and policy implications. Chapter 6 draws brief conclusions.

Item Type:	Thesis or Dissertation (PhD)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HB Economic Theory
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Commercial policy, Income distribution -- Great Britain, European Economic Community
Date:	December 2007
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Department of Economics
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Perroni, Carlo ; Whalley, John
Sponsors:	European Union (EU)
Extent:	288 leaves
Language:	eng
URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/40520

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