Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP9554
Authors: Henrik Horn
Abstract: Almost all WTO dispute panels exceed their statutory time limits. This is often seen to indicate a more general problem for panels to manage their tasks. The time required varies considerably across panels however, suggesting that they do not face the same problems. To shed light on these differences, this paper examines the relationship between the time panels require and features of their tasks. It finds that variables intended to capture quantitative aspects of panel workloads, as well as some complexity aspects, are positively related to the time required. But two factors that should simplify panels? tasks ? a large case law, and panelists? experience from serving on earlier panels ? do not seem to matter. The results are sensitive to the inclusion of certain disputes however, raising the question of whether these should be viewed as outliers.
Keywords: Panels; WTO; Dispute Settlement
JEL Codes: F13; K33
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| number of claims (G22) | time taken to issue report (C41) |
| complexity of cases (K41) | time taken to issue report (C41) |
| disputes involving environmental concerns (Q27) | time taken to issue report (C41) |
| disputes involving agricultural concerns (Q18) | time taken to issue report (C41) |
| existence of extensive case law (K13) | time taken to issue report (C41) |
| experience of panelists (C90) | time taken to issue report (C41) |