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Trading Profiles and Developing Country Participation in the WTO Dispute Settlement System

Author

Listed:
  • Francois, Joseph

    (Johannes Kepler University, Linz)

  • Horn, Henrik

    (Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN))

  • Kaunitz, Niklas

    (Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN))

Abstract

It has been alleged since its inception that the WTO Dispute Settlement (DS) mechanism is biased against developing countries, as manifested in e.g. allegedly too low rates of dispute initiation. To shed light on this issue, this study analyses the determinants of developing country participation in the DS system, using bilateral industry-level trade data, and a data set on dispute initiation that is significantly richer than what has been employed in the literature. But the study also points to a number of fundamental conceptual and data problems that beset the whole empirical literature that seeks to draw policy conclusions based on country participation in the DS system. While perhaps appreciated by researchers working in this area, these problems appear to go unnoticed by practitioners drawing on this literature.

Suggested Citation

  • Francois, Joseph & Horn, Henrik & Kaunitz, Niklas, 2008. "Trading Profiles and Developing Country Participation in the WTO Dispute Settlement System," Working Paper Series 730, Research Institute of Industrial Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:iuiwop:0730
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    Cited by:

    1. Soo Yeon Kim & Gabriele Spilker, 2019. "Global value chains and the political economy of WTO disputes," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 14(2), pages 239-260, June.
    2. Josling, Timothy, 2009. "Constructing A Composite Index of Market Access," WTO Doha Round 320110, International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD).
    3. Sofía Boza & Jazmín Muñoz, 2017. "Factors underlying sanitary and phytosanitary regulation for food and agricultural imports notified by WTO members," The Journal of International Trade & Economic Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(6), pages 712-723, August.
    4. Elobeid, Amani, 2009. "How Would A Trade Deal on Sugar Affect Exporting and Importing Countries?," WTO Doha Round 320140, International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD).
    5. Johannesson, Louise, 2016. "Supporting Developing Countries in WTO Dispute Settlement," Working Paper Series 1120, Research Institute of Industrial Economics.
    6. Fouad Pervez, 2015. "Waiting for election season," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 10(2), pages 265-303, June.
    7. Spilker, Gabriele, 2013. "The WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism – Enforcement, State Power, and Dispute Recurrence," Papers 584, World Trade Institute.
    8. Spilker, Gabriele, 2013. "Compliance with WTO Dispute Rulings," Papers 585, World Trade Institute.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    WTO; Dispute Settlement; Developing Countries; Dispute Initiation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations
    • F53 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - International Agreements and Observance; International Organizations
    • O19 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - International Linkages to Development; Role of International Organizations

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