Contents, Abbreviations

Preface by Jan Joost Teunissen

1 A Retrospective on Regional Integration Arrangements

• Introduction
• A Tour d'Horizon of RIAs Around the World
• The Role of Regionalism in the Emerging World Order

2 The Role of RIAs in Fostering Economic Development

• Introduction, Lessons from the Past
• The Inadequacy of Classical Theoretical Constructs
• Orthodox (Static) Gains from RIAs
• Unorthodox (Dynamic) Gains from RIAs
• Political Commitment to RIAs and the Issue of Credibility
• Equity and Regional Policy

3 Reducing Non-Tariff Barriers

• Barriers to Trade Gains
• Barriers to Production
• Barriers to Cross-Border Investment
• Other Barriers

4 The Experience of Developed vs. Developing Countries

• Why First-Generation RIAs Failed in Developing Countries
• Lessons for the Future

5 Second-Generation RIAs in the Developing World

• Determinants of Success
• Linking Up with Large Trade Blocs

6 Options for Creating Regional Trade Preferences Among Developing Countries

• The Role of Bilateral Agreements
• The Role of Customs Unions
• The Role of Preferential and Free Trade Areas

7 Regionalisation vs. Globalisation: The Issues

• Regionalism as a Mezzanine Step
• Trade Blocs
• GATT Rules
• Theoretical Objections and Practical Benefits

8 Synopsis and Conclusions

• The Road Ahead for Developing Countries
• The Political Dimension
• The Role of Donors
• Learning from Experience
• Distribution of Costs and Benefits
• Regional Adjustment Programmes
• External Linkages
• A Pragmatic Approach to Strengthening RIAs in Developing Countries

Annexes and Bibliography