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Article
Publication date: 4 December 2017

Athula Naranpanawa and Jayatilleke Bandara

There is a large body of literature on the link between trade liberalisation, growth and poverty. However, less attention has been paid to the relationship between trade and…

Abstract

Purpose

There is a large body of literature on the link between trade liberalisation, growth and poverty. However, less attention has been paid to the relationship between trade and regional disparities. The purpose of this paper is to identify and quantify the regional impacts of trade liberalisation, particularly in the war-affected regions and to understand to what extent trade reforms can contribute to the post-war recovery process and long-term economic and political stability in Sri Lanka.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors developed a single country multi-regional computable general equilibrium (CGE) model for the Sri Lankan economy to meet the need for a detailed country study as emphasised in the recent literature.

Findings

Both short-run and long-run results suggest that all regions including war-affected regions in the country gain from trade liberalisation, although gains are uneven across regions. Furthermore, the results suggest that war-affected regions gain more relative to some other regions in the long run.

Originality/value

According to the best of the authors’ knowledge within country regional impact of trade liberalisation using a multi-regional CGE model has never been attempted for Sri Lanka. The results of this study, even though based on Sri Lankan data, will be relevant to other developing countries engulfed in internal conflicts with regional economic disparities.

Details

International Journal of Social Economics, vol. 44 no. 12
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0306-8293

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 6 August 2014

Xiaowen Fu and Tae Hoon Oum

This chapter reviews the effects of air transport liberalization, and investigates the roles played by airport-airline vertical arrangements in liberalizing markets. Our…

Abstract

This chapter reviews the effects of air transport liberalization, and investigates the roles played by airport-airline vertical arrangements in liberalizing markets. Our investigation concludes that liberalization has led to substantial economic and traffic growth. Such positive outcomes are mainly due to increased competition and efficiency gains in the airline industry, and positive externalities to the overall economy. Liberalization allows airlines to optimize their networks, and thus may introduce substantial demand and financial uncertainty to airports. Vertical arrangements between airlines and airports may offer a wide range of benefits to the parties involved, yet such arrangements could also lead to airline entry barriers which reduce the effects of liberalization. Three approaches have been developed to model the effects of liberalization in complex market conditions, which include the analytical, econometric and computational network methods. These approaches should be selectively utilized in policy studies on liberalization.

Details

The Economics of International Airline Transport
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78350-639-2

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 January 2019

Swee-Sum Lam, Tao Li and Weina Zhang

The purpose of this paper is to reveal the economic impact of policy reversals related to market liberalization reforms in China.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reveal the economic impact of policy reversals related to market liberalization reforms in China.

Design/methodology/approach

To perform the analysis, the authors hand-collect 59 financial market liberalization policy reversals from 1999 to 2017. These reversals are related to the liberalization of the stock market, bond market, derivatives market, forex market, lending market, and real estate market etc. The authors employ a stylized equilibrium interest rate model from Li et al. (2013) to deduce the impact of policy reversals on economic growth and the associated volatility after the announcement of each policy reversal.

Findings

First, the authors discover that about half of reversals are related to some tradeoff between the economic growth and the volatility associated with growth. Second, the authors also find that about a quarter of the reversals are detrimental to both the growth and the stability. These reversals, if known to policymakers, should be entirely avoided or corrected. Third, using a simple diagnostic test, the authors can identify detrimental reversals at the intra-day frequency by computing the change of the term spread and the volatility before and after the reversals.

Practical implications

The findings are useful for identifying effective policymaking in developing countries where mature democratic and rigorous policymaking processes are often lacking and formulating economic policies is challenging. The findings suggest that policy reversals serve China well by improving the quality of the policy made without posing destructive consequences to the existing economic infrastructure. This empirical evidence is important for a better understanding of the benefits of policy reversals on economic growth.

Social implications

The empirical procedure provides a timely and objective evaluation of policy shifts, allowing for the general public to discern the rationale behind the policy decisions. Consequently, stakeholders’ trust and confidence in policymakers is enhanced so that the probability of the successful implementation of structural reforms may increase in these developing countries.

Originality/value

First, the results reveal some successful examples of Chinese policymaking in the path of liberalizing financial market. The authors find that the Chinese liberalization policy flip-flops have resulted in a more balanced growth on some occasions with reduced growth rate and volatility. Second, the proposed methodology provides an objective evaluation of policy shifts, allowing for the public to infer the general direction of the impact generated by policy shifts. Subsequently, stakeholders’ trust and confidence in policymakers can be enhanced and/or restored if the process of finding a successful path of structural reforms is unambiguous. Finally, the interest rate model also provides a timely method to evaluate the impact of policy shifts at an intra-day frequency, whereas most macroeconomic indicators are available at longer frequencies such as monthly or quarterly. The timeliness in understanding the economic consequences of policy reversals can be critical to prevent the destructive consequences of bad ones.

Details

China Finance Review International, vol. 10 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2044-1398

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 September 2005

Saleh M. Nsouli, Mounir Rached and Norbert Funke

The purpose of the paper is to review the issues involved in determining the appropriate speed of adjustment and the sequencing of economic reforms, and to develop a checklist of…

1511

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to review the issues involved in determining the appropriate speed of adjustment and the sequencing of economic reforms, and to develop a checklist of key guidelines for policymakers as a basis for their decision‐making process.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper develops a conceptual framework based on a survey of the theoretical and empirical literature, and the practical experience of the authors in this area.

Findings

The analysis in the paper shows that the optimal speed and sequence of reforms is country‐specific. But key policy considerations can help guide policymakers in the design of their reform strategy.

Practical implications

The arguments favoring a shock approach or a gradual approach are not absolute. Each country has to choose the proper speed of adjustment and sequencing of reforms by examining country‐specific factors. A thorough case‐by‐case analysis is needed before a decision on the appropriate timing and sequencing of reforms can be made.

Originality/value

The analysis in the paper leads to key reform guidelines for policymakers – covering areas such as prerequisites and resource constraints, political economy considerations, credibility and sustainability of reforms – that are instrumental in developing a well‐sequenced strategy.

Details

International Journal of Social Economics, vol. 32 no. 9
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0306-8293

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 27 June 2018

Gonçalo Pina

This paper aims to empirically and theoretically study the role of domestic savings behind the financial stability and growth effects of different financial liberalizations, when…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to empirically and theoretically study the role of domestic savings behind the financial stability and growth effects of different financial liberalizations, when the government is not able to commit to enforce financial contracts. The following liberalizations are considered. Macro financial liberalizations target capital flow and interest rate liberalization, whereas micro financial liberalizations target competition in the financial sector. Simultaneous liberalizations target both micro and macro dimensions.

Design/methodology/approach

This study theoretically solves a new simple model of different types of financial liberalizations, micro, macro and simultaneous. The focus is on the crisis and growth effects of countries liberalizing only macro dimensions of financial policy, relative to both micro and macro dimensions together, and on how the level of savings determines these effects. The study empirically uses data on macro and micro financial liberalizations for 91 countries between 1973 and 2005 to provide a taxonomy of liberalization strategies, and empirically tests whether domestic savings are related to the success of different strategies. Capital accumulation, investment profile and the frequency of financial crises are also evaluated.

Findings

The findings show that, empirically, simultaneous liberalizations are associated with larger growth only if the savings rate is large. If the savings rate is low, growth is larger when liberalizations target macro dimensions. Capital accumulation increases more with macro liberalizations under low savings and simultaneous liberalizations with high savings. Simultaneous liberalizations with low savings increase risks related to contract viability and expropriation, profits repatriation and payment delays. Simultaneous liberalizations with high savings are associated with smaller probabilities of financial crises. These observations are consistent with the theoretical model, where reduced competition in the financial sector can improve financial stability and reduce financial crises when savings are low.

Originality/value

The contribution of this paper, relative to the vast literature on financial liberalizations, is to document how savings determine the crisis and growth effects of macro and micro liberalizations. It provides and tests empirically a new channel for the role of savings when governments cannot commit to enforce financial contracts. This is informative for policymakers and policy institutions facing different strategies of financial liberalizations.

Article
Publication date: 15 July 2021

Salendu Salendu

This study aims to examine the effect of trade liberalization on welfare, directly or indirectly, through the productivity of the agricultural sector and the productivity of the…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to examine the effect of trade liberalization on welfare, directly or indirectly, through the productivity of the agricultural sector and the productivity of the industrial sector, which affects economic growth and the welfare of the community.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is explanatory as it looks at causal relationships between one variable with another (causality relationship). The data used in this study are secondary data from various sources, such as the International Financial Statistics (IFS) from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, Bank Indonesia reports, Central Bureau of Statistics and several other sources. All data used in this study is annual data for each research variable from 1986 to 2016.

Findings

Based on the results of the analysis, there is a significant direct and negative influence of the agricultural sector productivity on economic growth, a significant direct and negative influence of the industrial sector productivity on economic growth.

Originality/value

Considering the diverse effects of trade liberalization both on economic growth and people's welfare in developing countries, the researcher was interested in knowing how trade liberalization affects Indonesia. This study tries to observe and analyze those relations.

Details

Benchmarking: An International Journal, vol. 28 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-5771

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 26 September 2022

Tao Li

Recently, China has taken steps to open up its international air transport services at a higher level during its 14th Five-Year Period. As one step, a number of pilot free trade…

Abstract

Recently, China has taken steps to open up its international air transport services at a higher level during its 14th Five-Year Period. As one step, a number of pilot free trade zones (PFTZs) have been launched with different tasks for foreign economic cooperation based on institutional innovation. Some cities in these zones have been chosen to develop airport economy by liberalization of the fifth freedom traffic right (FFTR). Considering the different economic situations between passenger and cargo market following the outbreak of the coronavirus, this chapter focuses on its implication of the FFTR for air cargo and airport economy in these cities. Some air service agreements (ASAs) between China and other countries have contained the arrangements on the FFTR. However, this study argues that such arrangements are too general and need further negotiation and policy support for practical utilization. FFTR liberalization may drive cargo growth and economic development in the cities which have gained such policy support, but it may also bring competitive pressure on Chinese airlines. Furthermore, the FFTR liberalization policies do not guarantee an immediate positive result in fostering airport economy, and much work is needed for better utilization of the FFTR in China.

Details

The International Air Cargo Industry
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-83909-211-4

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 2 October 2017

Rana Muhammad Adeel-Farooq, Nor Aznin Abu Bakar and Jimoh Olajide Raji

The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the effects of financial liberalization and trade openness on the economic growth of two countries, namely, Pakistan and India…

1011

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the effects of financial liberalization and trade openness on the economic growth of two countries, namely, Pakistan and India for the period 1985-2014.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses the autoregressive distributed lag technique, which allows mixed order of integration. In addition, it uses the principal component method to create an index for financial liberalization to examine how it affects the economic growth of the selected countries.

Findings

The findings reveal that in the short and long run, trade openness has positive effect on the Pakistan’s economic growth while the financial liberalization has positive impact only in the long run. In the case of India, both financial liberalization and trade openness positively and significantly influence the economic growth in the short and long run.

Practical implications

By comparing the results of both countries, trade openness and financial liberalization increase the economic growth of India more than that of Pakistan. These results suggest that Pakistan should consider appropriate positive policies regarding financial liberalization and trade openness to achieve high and stable economic growth in the future.

Originality/value

This study creates financial liberalization index by using the principal component analysis method to explain the role of financial liberalization in the economic growth of Pakistan and India. In addition, it makes comparison of the results based on which country benefits most from the liberalization of trade and financial sectors. Only very few studies have examined these countries, yet their results have remained inconclusive as well.

Details

South Asian Journal of Business Studies, vol. 6 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2398-628X

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 21 October 2019

Sveinn Vidar Gudmundsson

European air transport policy, emerged through the confluence of case law and legislation, in four broad areas: liberalization, safety and security, greening, and the external…

Abstract

European air transport policy, emerged through the confluence of case law and legislation, in four broad areas: liberalization, safety and security, greening, and the external policy. Following the implementation of the single market for air transport, policy shifted to liberalizing and regulating associated services and in recent years to greening, the external aviation policy, and safety and security. Inclusion of air transport in the Environmental Trading Scheme of the European Union exemplifies the European Commission’s proactive stand on bringing the industry in line with emission reduction trajectories of other industries. However, the bid to include flights to third countries in the trading scheme pushed the EU into a controversial position, causing the Commission to halt implementation and to give ICAO time to seek a global multilateral agreement. The chapter also discusses how the nationality clauses in air services agreements breached the Treaty of Rome, and a court ruling to that effect enabled the EC to extend EU liberalization policies beyond the European Union, resulting in the Common Aviation Area with EU fringe countries and the Open Aviation Area with the USA. Another important area of progress was aviation safety, where the EU region is unsurpassed in the world, yet the Commission has pushed the boundary even further, by establishing the European Safety Agency to oversee the European Aviation Safety Management System. Another important area of regulatory development was aviation security, a major focus after the woeful events in 2001, but increasingly under industry scrutiny on costs and effectiveness. The chapter concludes by arguing that in the coming decade, the EU will strive to strengthen its position as a global countervailing power, symbolized in air transport by a leadership position in environmental policy and international market liberalization, exemplified in the EU’s external aviation policy.

Details

Airline Economics in Europe
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78973-282-5

Keywords

Abstract

Details

The Political Economy of Policy Reform: Essays in Honor of J. Michael Finger
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-0-44451-816-3

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