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The Growth Of Regional Economic Integration Agreements And The Middle East

Author

Listed:
  • Scott L. BAIER

    (John E. Walker Department of Economics, Clemson University)

  • Jeffrey H. BERGSTRAND

    (Department of Finance, Mendoza College of Business and Fellow, Kellogg Institute for international Studies, University of Notre Dame, and CESifo, Notre Dame, Indiana)

  • Peter EGGER

    (Ifo Institute for Economic Research, Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich)

Abstract

One of the most notable events of the world economy over the past twenty years has been the phenomenal growth in the number of international economic integration agreements, such as free trade agreements. This paper discusses the roles of “competitive liberalization” by nations’ governments and possible “domino effects” in the process of regionalism. Country pairs that tend to form free trade agreements tend to be closer to each other, more remote from the rest of the world, and larger and more similar in economic size. We examine the role of these economic factors for predicting the likelihoods of bilateral free trade agreements between Israel with Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.

Suggested Citation

  • Scott L. BAIER & Jeffrey H. BERGSTRAND & Peter EGGER, 2009. "The Growth Of Regional Economic Integration Agreements And The Middle East," Region et Developpement, Region et Developpement, LEAD, Universite du Sud - Toulon Var, vol. 29, pages 11-30.
    • Handle: RePEc:tou:journl:v:29:y:2009:p:11-30
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Thorvaldur Gylfason & Inmaculada Martínez-Zarzoso & Per Magnus Wijkman, 2012. "How Free Trade Can Help Convert the 'Arab Spring' into Permanent Peace and Democracy," CESifo Working Paper Series 3882, CESifo.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • F10 - International Economics - - Trade - - - General
    • F12 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Models of Trade with Imperfect Competition and Scale Economies; Fragmentation
    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations
    • F15 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Economic Integration

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