Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-ndw9j Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-02T19:06:57.972Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Does the WTO help member states improve governance?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 October 2013

SUSAN ARIEL AARONSON  and
M. RODWAN ABOUHARB
SUSAN ARIEL AARONSON*
Affiliation:
Elliott School of International Affairs and National War College, Washington, DC
M. RODWAN ABOUHARB*
Affiliation:
Department of Political Science, University College London
*
*Email: [email protected]
**Email: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

On 16 December 2011, Russia gained the approval of 153 other member states to join the World Trade Organization (WTO). During its arduous eighteen-year accession, Russian officials reformed a wide range of laws and policies that could affect trade.1 Russia made these changes because senior Russian officials believed that improved governance would pay off in greater foreign investment, and that investment in turn would stimulate economic growth.2 President Vladimir Putin acknowledged ‘countries compete in the attractiveness of their business climate … quality of state institutions and effectiveness of the court and legal system’. Ivan Tchakarov, chief economist at the Russian brokerage Renaissance Capital, asserted ‘By becoming a WTO member, Russia will have to import … rules and regulations that will address the very issues that foreign investors usually complain about, like corruption, the protection of minority shareholders, the independence of the judiciary.’3

Type
Review Article
Information
World Trade Review , Volume 13 , Issue 3 , July 2014 , pp. 547 - 582
Copyright
Copyright © Susan Ariel Aaronson and M. Rodwan Abouharb 2013 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aaronson, S. A. (2001), Taking Trade to the Streets: The Lost History of Public Attempts to Shape Globalization, Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.Google Scholar
Aaronson, S. A. (2007), ‘Seeping in Slowly: How Human Rights Concerns Are Penetrating the WTO’, World Trade Review, 6(3): 413–449.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Aaronson, S. A. (2011), ‘Human Rights’, in Chauffour, J. P. and Maur, J. C. (eds.), Preferential Trade Agreements Policies for Development: A Handbook, Washington, DC: World Bank, pp. 443–466.Google Scholar
Aaronson, S. A. and Abouharb, M. R. (2011), ‘Unexpected Bedfellows: The GATT, the WTO and Some Democratic Rights’, International Studies Quarterly, 55: 379–408.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Acemoglu, D. (2005), ‘Institutions as the Fundamental Cause of Long-Run Growth’, in Aghion, P. and Durlauf, S. (eds.), Handbook of Economic Growth, Amsterdam: North-Holland.Google Scholar
Acemoglu, D. and Robinson, J. A. (2012), Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity and Poverty, New York: Crown.Google Scholar
Ala'I, P. (2008–2009), ‘The WTO and the Anti-Corruption Movement’, Loyola University Chicago International Law Review, 6(1): 259–278.Google Scholar
Bacchetta, M. and Drabek, Z. (2002), ‘Effects of WTO Accession on Policy-Making in Sovereign States: Preliminary Lessons from the Recent Experience of Transition Countries’, Staff Working Paper ERSD-2002–02, WTO, Geneva.Google Scholar
Barton, J. H., Goldstein, J. L., Josling, T. E., and Steinberg, R. H. (2006), The Evolution of the Trade Regime: Politics, Law, and Economics of the GATT and the WTO, Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.Google Scholar
Basu, S. R. (2008), ‘Does WTO accession Affect Domestic Economic Policies and Institutions?’, HEI Working Paper No: 03/2008.Google Scholar
Bauhr, M. and Nasiritousi, N. (2009), ‘Towards Better Governments? A Theoretical Framework for the Influence of International Organizations’, Quality of Government Working Paper Series: 31.Google Scholar
Blanton, R. G. and Blanton, S. L. (2007), ‘Trade and Human Rights: Beyond the Spotlight?’, International Interactions, 33(2): 97–117.Google Scholar
Biukovic, L. (2008), ‘Selective Adaptation of WTO Transparency Norms and Local Practices in China and Japan’, Journal of International Economic Law, 11(4): 803–825.Google Scholar
Buthe, T. and Milner, H. V. (2008), ‘The Politics of Foreign Direct Investment into Developing Countries: Increasing FDI through International Trade Agreements?’, American Journal of Political Science, 52(4): 741–762.Google Scholar
Charnovitz, S. (2001), ‘The WTO and the Rights of the Individual’, Intereconomics Review of European Economic Policy, 36(2): 98–108.Google Scholar
Correlates of War Project (2011), ‘State System Membership List, v2011’, http://correlatesofwar.org (accessed 2 February 2012).Google Scholar
Dobbin, F., Simmons, B. A., and Garrett, G. (2007), ‘The Global Diffusion of Public Policies: Social Construction, Coercion, Competition, or Learning?’, Annual Review of Sociology, 33: 449–472.Google Scholar
Elkins, Z., Guzman, A. T., and Simmons, B. A. (2006), ‘Competing for Capital: The Diffusion of Bilateral Investment Treaties, 1960–2000’, International Organization, 60(Fall): 811–846.Google Scholar
Evenett, S. J. and Primo Braga, C. A. (2005), ‘WTO Accession: Lessons from Experience’, Trade Note 22, 6 June 2005.Google Scholar
Ferrantino, M. J. (2006), ‘Policy Anchors: Do Free Trade Agreements and WTO Accessions Serve As Vehicles for Developing Country Policy Reform?’, http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=895272 (accessed 2 February 2010).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Francois, J. F. (1997), ‘External Bindings and the Credibility of Reform’, in Galal, A. and Hoekman, B. (eds.), Regional Partners in Global Markets, London: Centre for Economic Policy Research.Google Scholar
Francois, J. F. (1999), ‘Trade Policy Transparency and Investor Confidence: The Implications of an Effective Trade Policy Review Mechanism’, CIES Discussion Paper No. 99, 17, August, University of Adelaide.Google Scholar
Freedom House (2011), ‘Freedom in the World: Methodology’, http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world-2011/methodology (accessed 2 February 2012)Google Scholar
Gleditsch, N. P., Wallensteen, P., Eriksson, M., Sollenberg, M., and Strand, H. (2002), ‘Armed Conflict 1946–2001: A New Dataset’, Journal of Peace Research, 39(5): 615–637.Google Scholar
Global Integrity Reports (Various years), Global Integrity Index, Global Integrity, http://report.globalintegrity.org/ (accessed 4 October 2011).Google Scholar
Goldstein, J. L. and Martin, L. (2000), ‘Legalization, Trade Liberalization, and Domestic Politics: A Cautionary Note’, International Organization, 54(3): 603–632.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goldstein, J. L., Rivers, D., and Tomz, M. (2007), ‘Institutions in International Relations: Understanding the Effects of the GATT and the WTO on World Trade’, International Organization, 61(1): 37–68.Google Scholar
Greenhill, B. (2010), ‘The Company You Keep: International Socialization and the Diffusion of Human Rights Norms’, International Studies Quarterly, 10(4): 127–145.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Halle, M. and Wolfe, R. (eds.) (2007), Process Matters: Sustainable Development and Domestic Trade Transparency, Winnipeg: International Institute for Sustainable Development.Google Scholar
Heston, A., Summers, R., and Bettina, A. (2011), ‘Penn World Table Version 7.0’, Center for International Comparisons of Production, Income and Prices at the University of Pennsylvania, May, http://pwt.econ.upenn.edu/php_site/pwt_index.php (accessed 4 October 2011).Google Scholar
Honda, J. (2008) ‘Do IMF Programs Improve Economic Governance?’, IMF Working Paper WP/08/114, May.Google Scholar
Keohane, R. O. (2005), After Hegemony: Cooperation and Discord in the World Political Economy, Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.Google Scholar
Keohane, R. O., Macedo, S., and Moravcsik, A. (2009), ‘Democracy-Enhancing Multilateralism’, International Organization, 63(Winter): 1–31.Google Scholar
Kaufman, D., Kraay, A., and Mastruzzi, M. (2010), ‘The Worldwide Governance Indicators: Methodology and Analytical Issues’, World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 5430, http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1682130 (accessed 2 February 2012).Google Scholar
La Porta, R., Lopez-de-Silanes, F., Shleifer, A., and Vishny, R. (1999), ‘The Quality of Government’, Journal of Law Economics and Organisation, 15(1): 222–279.Google Scholar
Lambsdorff, J. G. (2007), The Institutional Economics of Corruption and Reform: Theory, Evidence and Policy, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Landman, Todd (2005), Protecting Human Rights: A Comparative Study, Washington DC: Georgetown University Press.Google Scholar
Langhammer, R. J. and Lucke, M. (1999), ‘WTO Accession Issues’, The World Economy, 22(6): 837–873.Google Scholar
Lanoszka, A. (2001), ‘WTO Accession Process: Negotiating Participation in a Globalizing Economy’, Journal of World Trade, 35(4): 575–602.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mansfield, E. D., Milner, H. V., and Rosendorff, P. B. (2002), ‘Why Democracies Cooperate More: Electoral Control and International Trade Agreements’, International Organization, 56(3): 477–513.Google Scholar
Mansfield, E. D. and Pevehouse, J. C. (2008), ‘Democratization and the Varieties of International Organizations’, Journal of Conflict Resolution, 52: 269–294.Google Scholar
Marshall, M. G., Gurr, T. R., and Jaggers, K. (2009), ‘Polity™ IV: Political Regime Characteristics and Transitions, 1800–2009’, Dataset Users’ Manual, available from www.systemicpeace.org (accessed 4 October 2011).Google Scholar
Michalopoulos, C. (1998), Developing Countries’ Participation in the World Trade Organization, World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 1906, Washington, DC: World Bank.Google Scholar
Olson, M. (1965), The Logic of Collective Action: Public Goods and the Theory of Groups, Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.Google Scholar
Nadakavukaren Schefer, K. (2008), ‘Corruption and the WTO Legal System’, Society of International Economic Law (SIEL), Inagural Conference 2008 Paper, 13 June, http://ssrn.com/abstract=1145567 (accessed 2 February 2010).Google Scholar
Neumayer, E. (2005), ‘Do International Human Rights Treaties Improve Respect for Human Rights?’, The Journal of Conflict Resolution, 49(6): 925–953.Google Scholar
Potter, P. B. (2003), ‘China and the WTO: Tensions between Globalization and Local Culture’, mimeo prepared for the China–WTO Accession Project, University of Toronto.Google Scholar
Poe, S. C. (2004), ‘The Decision to Repress: An Integrative Theoretical Approach to the Research on Human Rights and Repression’, in Carey, S. C. and Poe, S. C. (eds.), Understanding Human Rights Violations, Burlington, VT: Ashgate Publishing, pp. 16–38.Google Scholar
Poe, S. C., Tate, C. N., and Camp Keith, L. (1999), ‘Repression of the Human Right to Personal Integrity Revisited: A Global Cross-National Study Covering the Years 1976–1993’, International Studies Quarterly, 43(2): 291–313.Google Scholar
Revaillion, M. (2010), ‘Mashup Indices of Development’, World Bank Policy Research Paper 5432, September.Google Scholar
Rose, A. (2002), ‘Does the World Trade Organization Actually Promote World Trade?’, NBER Working Paper No. 9273.Google Scholar
Rose, A. (2005), ‘Does the WTO Make Trade More Stable?’, Open Economies Review, 16(1): 7–22.Google Scholar
Sandholtz, W. and Gray, M. M. (2003), ‘International Integration and National Corruption’, International Organization, 57(Fall): 761–800.Google Scholar
Simmons, B. A. (2009), Mobilizing for Human Rights: International Law in Domestic Politics, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Simmons, B. A., Dobbin, F., and Garrett, G. (2008), The Global Diffusion of Markets and Democracy, New York: Cambridge.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
StataCorp (2011), Statabase Reference manual Release 12 College Station, TX: StataCorp LP.Google Scholar
Sung, H.-E. and Chu, D. (2003), ‘Does Participation in the Global Economy Reduce Political corruption?’, International Journal of Comparative Criminology, 3(2): 94–118.Google Scholar
Tang, M.-K. and Wei, S.-J. (2006), ‘Is Bitter Medicine Good for You? The Economic Consequences of WTO/GATT Accessions’, IMF Conference on Trade Research Department, 13 April, http://www.imf.org/external/np/res/seminars/2006/trade04/tanwei.pdf (accessed 2 February 2010).Google Scholar
Trujillo, E. (2007) ‘Shifting Paradigms of Parochialism: Lessons for International Trade’, Journal of International Law and International Relations, 41: 41–55.Google Scholar
UNDP (1997), ‘Governance for Sustainable Human Development’, A UNDP policy document. United Nations Development Programme, January.Google Scholar
Valdés, R. (2010), ‘Lessons from the First Two Decades of Trade Policy Reviews in the Americas’, WTO Staff Working Papers, ERSD-2010–15, https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/reser_e/wpaps_e.htm (accessed 2 February 2012).Google Scholar
Von Stein, J. (2005), ‘Do Treaties Constrain or Screen? Selection Bias and Treaty Compliance’, American Political Science Review, 99(4): 611–622.Google Scholar
Wei, S.-J. (1999), Corruption in Economic Development: Beneficial Grease, Minor Annoyance, or Major Obstacle? World Bank Policy Research Paper 2048, Washington, DC: World Bank.Google Scholar
World Bank (Various years), Doing Business Report, Washington, DC: World Bank.Google Scholar
World Bank (2006), Global Monitoring Report: Millennium Development Goals: Strengthening Mutual Accountability, Aid Trade and Governance, Washington, DC: World Bank.Google Scholar
World Trade Organization (2005), Managing the Challenges of WTO Participation: 45 Case Studies, www.wto.org/English/Res_E/Booksp_E/Casestudies_E/Casestudies_E.Htmya (accessed 2 February 2010).Google Scholar
World Trade Organization (2007), World Trade Report.Google Scholar
Zahrnt, V. (2009), ‘The WTO's Trade Policy Review Mechanism: How to Create Political Will for Liberalization?’, ECIPE Working Paper No. 11, Brussels, Belgium.Google Scholar
Supplementary material: File

Aaronson and Abouharb Supplementary Material

Appendix

Download Aaronson and Abouharb Supplementary Material(File)
File 438.8 KB