Working Paper: NBER ID: w2751
Authors: Colleen Hamilton; John Whalley
Abstract: This paper both documents the involvement of developing countries in coalitional activity in the current GATT Uruguay round thus far, and provides a rudimenting evaluation of the pros and cons of the different options for them as far as coalitional strategies are concerned. The main conclusions are that much of the coalitional activity involving developing countries thus far in the round has been agenda-moving and joint proposal-making, rather than negotiating involving exchanges of concession. At the same time, however, coalitional activity by a larger group of mid-sized developed and smaller developing countries who see a major interest in preserving the multilateral system has been central to the process.
Keywords: GATT; Uruguay Round; coalitions; developing countries; trade negotiations
JEL Codes: F13; F15
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| coalitional activity involving agenda-moving and joint proposal-making (D70) | prevalence among developing countries (F63) |
| coalition size (D74) | effectiveness of negotiations (F51) |
| formation of agenda-moving coalitions (D72) | stability compared to negotiating coalitions (D79) |
| coalitional activity (C71) | improved negotiation outcomes for developing countries (F63) |