Date of Award
1-1-2008
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.A.
Department
Economics
First Advisor
Peter Sai-wing Ho, Ph.D.
Second Advisor
Andrew Goetz
Third Advisor
Tracy Mott
Fourth Advisor
Rudiger von Arnim
Keywords
Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Foreign investment, Market access, North American Free Trade Agreement, NAFTA, PTAs, Preferential trade agreements, Development, Regional economic integration
Abstract
The importance of PTAs in today's global economic order is unmistakable, especially during the last fifteen years when their proliferation has dramatically accelerated and their scope and structure have radically changed. However, the available theoretical framework (international trade theories) from which their developmental impact is assessed seems to be largely lagging behind. Hence, there is a crucial need for more realistic assessments of their embedded developmental features because an increasing number of developing countries are perceiving these agreements as one of the key instruments to propel their long delayed economic development. In this thesis, I strive to construct an alternative theoretical framework that can better adapt to current PTAs' structures, allowing a more realistic assessment of their economic impact on developing countries. By following this alternative approach, I comparatively assess the development drive of two of today's most important PTAs, namely NAFTA and ASEAN. The main conclusion echoes an increasing literature that warns developing countries from engaging in "reciprocal" North-South PTAs, but at the same time, encourages them to pursue South-South integration, which can prove to be beneficial for their development.
Publication Statement
Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
Recommended Citation
Ramirez, Jose Luis, "The Development Drive of North-South Versus South-South PTAs" (2008). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 537.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/537
Provenance
Received from ProQuest
Rights holder
Jose Luis Ramirez
File size
131 p.
Copyright date
2008
File format
application/pdf
Language
en
Discipline
Economics, Economics, Commerce-Business, International law