This thesis investigates the role of institutions and firm behaviours in international trade. Chapter 1 estimates a dynamic general equilibrium model of entry, exit, and endogenous productivity growth. Productivity is endogenous both at the industry level (firms enter and exit) and at the firm level (firms invest in productivity-enhancing activities). Three key findings emerge. First, there is no evidence of learning by exporting: the observed positive correlation between exporting and productivity operates entirely via the impact of exporting on productivity-enhancing investments. Restated, exporting decision raises productivity, but only indirectly by making investing in productivity more attractive. Second, there is evidence of learning by producing multiple products: product-mix raises productivity directly in addition to the investment channel. Third, there are strong complementarities among the product-mix, exporting and investment decisions. Finally, we simulate the effects of reductions in foreign tariffs. This increases exporting, investing, and wages. Productivity rises at the economy-wide level both because of the between firm reallocation effect and because of within firm increases in productivity. Chapter 2 incorporates credit constraints into amodel of global sourcing and heterogeneous firms. Following Antras and Helpman(2004), heterogeneous firms decide whether to source inputs at arm’s length or within the boundary of the firm. Financing of fixed organizational costs requires borrowing with credit constraints and collateral based on tangible assets. The party that controls intermediate inputs is responsible for these financing costs. Sectors differ in their reliance on external finance and countries vary in their financial development. The model predicts that increased financial development increases the share of arm’s length transactions relative to integration in a country. The effect is most pronounced in sectors with a high reliance on external finance. Empirical examination of country-industry interaction effects confirms the predictions of the model. Chapter 3 examines whether financial development facilitates economic growth by estimating the effect of financial development on reducing the costs of external finance to firms. The data reveal substantial evidence of decreasing returns to the benefit of financial development in industries that are more dependent on external finance and countries with less financial frictions.

This thesis investigates the role of institutions and firm behaviours in international trade. Chapter 1 estimates a dynamic general equilibrium model of entry, exit, and endogenous productivity growth. Productivity is endogenous both at the industry level (firms enter and exit) and at the firm level (firms invest in productivity-enhancing activities). Three key findings emerge. First, there is no evidence of learning by exporting: the observed positive correlation between exporting and productivity operates entirely via the impact of exporting on productivity-enhancing investments. Restated, exporting decision raises productivity, but only indirectly by making investing in productivity more attractive. Second, there is evidence of learning by producing multiple products: product-mix raises productivity directly in addition to the investment channel. Third, there are strong complementarities among the product-mix, exporting and investment decisions. Finally, we simulate the effects of reductions in foreign tariffs. This increases exporting, investing, and wages. Productivity rises at the economy-wide level both because of the between firm reallocation effect and because of within firm increases in productivity. Chapter 2 incorporates credit constraints into amodel of global sourcing and heterogeneous firms. Following Antras and Helpman(2004), heterogeneous firms decide whether to source inputs at arm’s length or within the boundary of the firm. Financing of fixed organizational costs requires borrowing with credit constraints and collateral based on tangible assets. The party that controls intermediate inputs is responsible for these financing costs. Sectors differ in their reliance on external finance and countries vary in their financial development. The model predicts that increased financial development increases the share of arm’s length transactions relative to integration in a country. The effect is most pronounced in sectors with a high reliance on external finance. Empirical examination of country-industry interaction effects confirms the predictions of the model. Chapter 3 examines whether financial development facilitates economic growth by estimating the effect of financial development on reducing the costs of external finance to firms. The data reveal substantial evidence of decreasing returns to the benefit of financial development in industries that are more dependent on external finance and countries with less financial frictions.

This thesis examines the effects of price and exchange rate volatilities on the volume of trade corn, soybean, wheat and rice. Empirical results indicate that price volatility and exchange rate volatilities do not have effects on Canada’s export of wheat and soybean, and Canada’s import of corn and rice. This thesis also examined the effects of exchange rate and commodity price volatilities on developed countries’ trade and developing countries’ trade separately. Results show that trade between developing countries is more sensitive to exchange rate and commodity price volatilities than trade between developed countries. / Canadian Agricultural Trade Policy and Competitiveness Research Network (CATPRN)

This thesis examines the effects of price and exchange rate volatilities on the volume of trade corn, soybean, wheat and rice. Empirical results indicate that price volatility and exchange rate volatilities do not have effects on Canada’s export of wheat and soybean, and Canada’s import of corn and rice. This thesis also examined the effects of exchange rate and commodity price volatilities on developed countries’ trade and developing countries’ trade separately. Results show that trade between developing countries is more sensitive to exchange rate and commodity price volatilities than trade between developed countries. / Canadian Agricultural Trade Policy and Competitiveness Research Network (CATPRN)

This thesis examines the effects of price and exchange rate volatilities on the volume of trade corn, soybean, wheat and rice. Empirical results indicate that price volatility and exchange rate volatilities do not have effects on Canada’s export of wheat and soybean, and Canada’s import of corn and rice. This thesis also examined the effects of exchange rate and commodity price volatilities on developed countries’ trade and developing countries’ trade separately. Results show that trade between developing countries is more sensitive to exchange rate and commodity price volatilities than trade between developed countries. / Canadian Agricultural Trade Policy and Competitiveness Research Network (CATPRN)

Kiekvienos valstybės ekonominė raida yra priklausoma nuo tarptautinių ekonominių santykių. Tarptautinė prekyba stipriai įtakoja tokius valstybių ekonominius rodiklius kaip bendrą vidaus produktą (BVP), mokėjimų balansą, ūkio augimo tempus, užimtumą ir kt., todėl jos analizės jokiu būdu negalima atmesti Autorius darbe pateikia Lietuvos užsienio prekybos raidos ir struktūros analizę 1990-2005 metais. Supažindinama su tarptautinės prekybos teoriniais aspektais, teorijomis, skirtingai aiškinančiomis tarptautinės prekybos svarbą valstybės ekonominiuose procesuose. Nagrinėjamos Lietuvos užsienio prekybos ekonominės, socialinės ir politinės prielaidos ir reikšmė. Analizuojama Lietuvos užsienio prekybos apimtis, dinamika, balansas, plačiau aptariami svarbiausi užsienio prekybos partneriai, geografinė struktūra. Nagrinėjama Lietuvos užsienio prekybos importo - eksporto prekinė struktūra, jos kitimo tendencijos. Koreliacinės – regresinės analizės gautų rezultatų pagalba, įrodoma BVP priklausomybė nuo eksporto ir importo srautų. Analizės pagalba nustatoma, kad šiandieninis Lietuvos BVP augimas yra labiau veikiamas importo nei eksporto srautų. Lietuvos tarptautinei prekybai plėtoti autorius siūlo priemonių programą, kurios tikslas - sudaryti palankesnes sąlygas Lietuvos eksporto plėtrai, tradicinių ir naujų eksporto sričių augimui, didesniam lietuviškos kilmės produkcijos pardavimui, bei informacijos apie Lietuvą ir jos gaminamą produkciją bei teikiamas paslaugas skleidimui. / The development of each countries economy is dependant on international relations. International trade makes big impact on such economical indicators as GDP (Gross Domestic Product), balance of payments, rate of economy growth, unemployment rate, etc. This is why international trade must be carefully analyzed. The author analyses development and structure of Lithuania’s international trade in the period of 1990 to 2005. Theoretical aspects of international trade, it’s theories, which represent different interpretations of impact of international trade to economical processes, are presented in this work. The study of economical, social and political background of Lithuania’s international trade has been made, as well as the analysis of the scope of Lithuania’s international trade, it’s dynamics, balance, geographical structure, a broader view of the most important partners. The structure of Lithuanian import – export and it’s trends. The dependence of Lithuania’s GDP to export and import flows has been proven with the help of correlative – regressive analysis. The findings of such an analysis also tells that today Lithuania’s economical growth is more influenced on import rather than export. The program for development of Lithuania’s international trade has been given by the author of this work. It’s primary purpose is to give better conditions for Lithuanian export to expand, growth of traditional and new export directions, bigger sales of Lithuanian – made production... [to full text]

This thesis analyzes the dialectical relations of economic liberalism and nationalism. Four arguments are made: (1) the international economic order is the product of the intercourse between liberalism and nationalism; (2) world trade expansion is conditioned by the rise of protectionism; (3) the formation of regional trading blocs sets up a bridge between regional liberalism and GATT (General Agreement on Trade and Tariff); (4) the success of development is determined by the results of the crystallization of the nation-state. The arguments of this paper develop from abstract to specific. In the first part, the philosophical foundations of liberalism and nationalism are given attention. Both forces are regarded as the foundations of modern international relations, the success of one side depending on the other. In this connection, Ruggie's (1982) "embedded liberalism" is extended to the whole range of modern history. The three theories are also reviewed with respect to their ideologic commitments. The rapprochement of nationalism and liberalism implies that their originally one-sided standpoints need modification. In the second part of this thesis, empirical analyses are introduced. The different state patterns, such as free capitalism and state socialism, are regarded as the results of crystallization (Mann, forthcoming). The rise of protectionism and regionalism reflect the erosion of the existing international relations. Successful nationalism could set up the foundation for the solid development of liberalism under the political framework of democracy, which could alter the existing international relations.

Since the liberalization of international trade intensified in the middle of the XXth century, some States wished that goods and services containing a cultural value be put aside from the process of liberalization by means of a cultural exception. Others, on the contrary, considered that cultural industries constitute commodities entirely subjected to the principles of free trade. This thesis analyzes the present debate in order to determine if the cultural value of certain industries is enough to justify a specific treatment in international trade. For that purpose, the study goes back to the historical origins of the problem and attempts to determine if these industries have a specificity, particularly by analyzing their role in a society and by examining their legal nature. Based on these considerations, during the negotiations of the international trade agreements, some States intended to impose their point of view. Some of the latest agreements hold a specific regime to the cultural sector, whereas others did not refer explicitly to these. However, several governments have implemented support measures for their cultural industries, something other States considered violations to the principles of free trade and attacked them on political and legal grounds. Finally, this thesis examines the recent evolutions of the debate, especially at the time of the new round of negotiations within the framework of the WTO. It analyzes, as well, the new questions given arise by the development of new technologies, the new strategies of the States, and the solutions proposed to solve this debate. Most of these solutions refer to the cultural diversity concept, which, in a sense tend to appear as a political objective, which will make it possible to draw some legal conclusions in the field of international trade.

The main objective of this paper was to explore and evaluate the viability of incorporating the promotion, enforcement and protection of human rights within the WTO agenda, mandate and framework. It further aimed to investigate the viability of accelerating multilateral cooperation amongst international major role players, thus assessing and evaluating the kind of cooperation necessary for the adequate protection and enforcement of human rights by the WTO and major role players involved.

<p>A lot of work has been done regart=ding the SPS agreement and its impact on iternational trade, though not so connclusive. The study, however, is going to deal specifically with an impact of the SPS agreement to the SSA countries, by analysing the balance beween protection of human, animal and plant life or health on the one hand and promotion of international trade in this region.</p>