AEA Papers and Proceedings
ISSN 2574-0768 (Print) | ISSN 2574-0776 (Online)
The Trade Reform Wave of 1985−1995
AEA Papers and Proceedings
vol. 112,
May 2022
(pp. 244–51)
Abstract
The decade from 1985 to 1995 will go down in history as an unprecedented period in which global trade barriers were reduced. Some trade agreements (the North American Free Trade Agreement, the European Single Market, the Uruguay Round) were prominent late in this period, but the reform wave was led by developing countries in Latin America and Asia and formerly communist countries in Eastern Europe undertaking unilateral reforms. What accounts for this remarkable shift in policy? This paper highlights the declining use of trade restrictions for balance of payments purposes and the rise in exchange rate flexibility as important factors driving the policy change.Citation
Irwin, Douglas A. 2022. "The Trade Reform Wave of 1985−1995." AEA Papers and Proceedings, 112: 244–51. DOI: 10.1257/pandp.20221048Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- F13 Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations
- F14 Empirical Studies of Trade
- F15 Economic Integration
- F32 Current Account Adjustment; Short-term Capital Movements
- O19 International Linkages to Development; Role of International Organizations
- O24 Development Planning and Policy: Trade Policy; Factor Movement; Foreign Exchange Policy