This paper provides a quantitative study of the economic effects of a stylised simulation of trade liberalisation for Ireland using the GTAP model. The experiment incorporates the liberalisation of agricultural, manufacturing and services trade as well as measures to improve trade facilitation. The simulation is implemented against a baseline projection of the Irish and world economy over the n...

In the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis, the implications of financial liberalisation for stability and economic growth has come under increased scrutiny. One strand of literature posits a positive relationship between financial liberalisation and economic growth and development. However, others emphasise the link between financial liberalisation is intrinsically associated with fi...

This paper provides a quantitative study of the economic effects of a stylised simulation of trade liberalisation for Ireland using the GTAP model. The experiment incorporates the liberalisation of agricultural, manufacturing and services trade as well as measures to improve trade facilitation. The simulation is implemented against a baseline projection of the Irish and world economy over the n...

We offer a new perspective to the unionised wage effects of unilateral trade liberalisation by considering endogenous domestic market structure. Hence, in contrast to the existing works, which focus on the short-run effects of trade liberalisation on unionised wage, we focus on more long-run effects by considering the effects of trade liberalisation on the domestic market structure. Trade liber...

The proliferation of preferential trading agreements (PTAs) in different regions of the world has been a significant development over the last two decades or so. South Asian countries are slowly moving towards a South Asia Free Trade Area (SAFTA) in recent years. The desirability of SAFTA has been questioned by some observers recently. Do necessary conditions exist for a successful PTA in South...

Liberalisation transforms market structures through the responses of incumbent firms and entrants to freedom of choice. Market shares tend to turn more volatile, and the agility and competitiveness of small, as against large, firms determine whether markets grow more concentrated, or less. We analyse the way these processes played out in Indian manufacturing industries over the 17-year period f...

This paper explores the issue of the balance between liberalisation and regulation in electricity systems, which is the essence of much of the detailed policies which are implemented in the sector. By liberalisation I take to mean the use of market or quasimarket mechanisms as part of a reform of the sector, by regulation I take to mean regulatory intervention to restrain the operation of marke...

This empirical paper adopts panel data methodologies to investigate the impact of trade liberalisation on export growth and import growth across 28 Sub-Saharan African countries from 1981 to 2010. The results show that trade liberalisation increases the growth of exports; however, imports grow faster by approximately two percentage points which gives a prima facie evidence that the trade balanc...

Based on the example of the liberalisation of the electricity market in Switzerland, we investigate the relation of liberalisation with sustainability. The plebiscite on the electricity market law prospectively taking place in September 2002 will be crucial for this process. Besides the relation of liberalisation to sustainability, based on the contents and aims of these two concepts, we descri...

Liberalisation is generally taken to be synonymous with removal of price controls and barriers to trade. In the following paper, the measurement of liberalisation and its impact on economic growth are discussed. The relationship between liberalisation and growth is often studied at the macro-level, but the mechanisms by which liberalisation affects growth are to be found mainly at the micro-lev...