Recurrent Trade Agreements and the Value of External Enforcement
UCSD Economics Discussion Paper 2001-01
43 Pages Posted: 14 Sep 2001
There are 2 versions of this paper
Recurrent Trade Agreements and the Value of External Enforcement
Recurrent Trade Agreements and the Value of External Enforcement
Date Written: June 2001
Abstract
This paper presents a theory of dynamic trade agreements in which external institutions, such as the WTO, play a central role in supporting credible enforcement. In our model, countries engage in ongoing negotiations, and as a consequence cooperative agreements become unsustainable in the absence of external enforcement institutions. By using mechanisms such as delays in dispute resolution and direct penalties, enforcement institutions can restore incentives for cooperation, despite the lack of any coercive power. The occurrence of costly trade disputes, and the feasibility of mechanisms such as escape clauses, depend on the adaptability of enforcement institutions in their use of information.
Keywords: Institutions, Recurrent Negotiation, Dispute Resolution, Cooperation, WTO
JEL Classification: F13, K33, C72
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation