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Do Trade Preferential Agreements Enhance the Exports of Developing Countries? Evidence from the EU GSP - Gli accordi di preferenza commerciale promuovono le esportazioni dei paesi in via di sviluppo? Un’analisi del sistema di preferenze generalizzate

Author

Listed:
  • Aiello, Francesco

    (University of Calabria, Department of Economics and Statistics)

  • Demaria, Fedrica

    (University of Calabria, Department of Economics and Statistics)

Abstract

The EU grants preferential access to its imports from developing countries under several trade agreements. The widest arrangement, in terms of country and product coverage, is the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) through which, since 1971, virtually all developing countries have received preferential treatment when exporting to EU. This paper evaluates the impact of GSP in enhancing developing countries’ exports to EU markets. It is based on the estimation of a gravity model for a sample of 769 products exported from 169 countries to EU over the period 2001-2004. From an econometric point of view, the estimation methods take into account unobservable country heterogeneity and the potential selection bias which zero-trade values pose. Moreover, the empirical setting considers an explicit measure of trade preferences, the margin of preferences. The analysis offers new empirical evidence that the impact of GSP on developing countries’ agricultural exports to the EU is, on average, positive. - Sin dagli anni settanta l’Unione Europea (UE) garantisce accesso preferenziale alle sue importazioni provenienti dai paesi in via di sviluppo (PVS) attraverso una serie di accordi di preferenza commerciale. Tra questi, il più importante è il Sistema di Preferenze Generalizzate (SPG), che è adottato dall’UE su base unilaterale e garantisce ai paesi beneficiari la concessione di preferenze commerciali, tariffarie e non, alle esportazioni sul mercato comunitario. Lo scopo di questo articolo è di valutare se il SPG ha stimolato le esportazioni agricole dei PVS verso l’UE nel periodo 2001- 2004. L’analisi empirica è effettuata utilizzando un modello gravitazionale e considera i flussi commerciali di 769 prodotti agricoli provenienti da 169 paesi. Per valutare l’impatto delle preferenze garantite da tale accordo si utilizza una misura quantitativa del margine di preferenza commerciale e, da un punto di vista econometrico, si utilizza uno stimatore che permette di tener conto degli effetti sulle stime determinati dalla presenza di flussi commerciali nulli. Se da un lato i risultati mostrano che il SPG esercita, in media, un impatto positivo sulle esportazioni dei paesi beneficiari, dall’altro lato l’analisi evidenzia l’esistenza di sostanziali differenze di impatto da un settore all’altro.

Suggested Citation

  • Aiello, Francesco & Demaria, Fedrica, 2012. "Do Trade Preferential Agreements Enhance the Exports of Developing Countries? Evidence from the EU GSP - Gli accordi di preferenza commerciale promuovono le esportazioni dei paesi in via di sviluppo? ," Economia Internazionale / International Economics, Camera di Commercio Industria Artigianato Agricoltura di Genova, vol. 65(3), pages 371-402.
  • Handle: RePEc:ris:ecoint:0659
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Trade Preferences; Agricultural Trade; Gravity Model;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations
    • O19 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - International Linkages to Development; Role of International Organizations
    • Q17 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Agriculture in International Trade

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