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Pursuing Environmental and Social Objectives through Trade Agreements

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  • Perrot De Champ,Francois Marie Jean Fernand Joseph
  • Hoekman,Bernard M.
  • Manchin,Miriam
  • Santi,Filippo

Abstract

Using a data set covering more than 120 countries spanning several decades, this paper employs asynthetic difference in difference estimator to study whether non-trade provisions on labor standards,environmental protection and civil and human rights in trade agreements yield improvements in corresponding indicators.The paper distinguishes between binding (enforceable) and non-binding provisions and investigates linkages betweennon-trade provisions and official development assistance. The analysis finds no evidence that provisions relatedlabour or civil rights improved the associated outcome indicators, while evidence on environmental outcomes ismixed. Official development assistance is significantly greater with non-binding environmental and civil rightsprovisions, but not with labor standards.

Suggested Citation

  • Perrot De Champ,Francois Marie Jean Fernand Joseph & Hoekman,Bernard M. & Manchin,Miriam & Santi,Filippo, 2023. "Pursuing Environmental and Social Objectives through Trade Agreements," Policy Research Working Paper Series 10323, The World Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:10323
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    Cited by:

    1. Basak Bayramoglu & Estelle Gozlan & Clément Nedoncelle & Thibaut Tarabbia, 2025. "Trade Agreements and Sustainable Fisheries [Accords commerciaux et pêche durable]," Working Papers hal-04101044, HAL.
    2. Qifei Chen & Yanzhi Shen, 2024. "Deep trade agreements and services trade: An analysis based on service trade provisions," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(7), pages 2909-2946, July.
    3. Hoekman, Bernard & Santi, Filippo & Shingal, Anirudh, 2023. "Trade effects of non-economic provisions in trade agreements," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 226(C).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations
    • F16 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade and Labor Market Interactions
    • F17 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Forecasting and Simulation
    • F18 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade and Environment
    • F35 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Foreign Aid
    • O19 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - International Linkages to Development; Role of International Organizations

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