IMF Working Papers

International Trade and Poverty Alleviation

By Geoffrey J Bannister

May 1, 2001

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Geoffrey J Bannister. International Trade and Poverty Alleviation, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 2001) accessed December 22, 2024
Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate

Summary

Empirical studies suggest that trade reform has a positive effect on employment and income for the poor; however, there are winners and losers. If the transitional costs of trade liberalization fall disproportionately on the poor, trade reform can be designed to mitigate these effects. This includes making reforms as broad based as possible, sequencing and phasing them to allow for adjustment, and implementing social safety nets and other reforms that facilitate adjustment to the new trade policy. In assessing these findings, it should be borne in mind that the links between trade reform and poverty are complex, making systematic empirical investigations difficult.

Subject: Employment, Income, International trade, Labor, National accounts, Poverty, Poverty reduction, Trade liberalization, Trade policy

Keywords: Africa, Benefits from trade liberalization, Designed trade reform, Employment, Impact of trade liberalization, Importance of trade liberalization, Income, Liberalization, Poverty alleviation, Poverty reduction, Price effects of a trade liberalization, Trade, Trade liberalization, Trade policy, Trade reform, Trade reform fall, Trade rent, Trade tax, Trade theory, Trade volume, WP

Publication Details

  • Pages:

    33

  • Volume:

    ---

  • DOI:

    ---

  • Issue:

    ---

  • Series:

    Working Paper No. 2001/054

  • Stock No:

    WPIEA0542001

  • ISBN:

    9781451847512

  • ISSN:

    1018-5941