International Economic Integration Theory And Measurement

The global impact of economic integration is the subject of this book which examines policies in Europe and abroad. Ali M. El-Agraa is the author and editor of many books on economics and trade, including "Japan's Trade Frictions" and "Trade Theory and Policy".

First published in 1962, The Theory of Economic Integration provides an excellent exposition of a complex and far-reaching topic. Professor Balassa has been remarkably successful in covering so much ground with such care and balance, in a treatment which is neither in any way abstruse nor unnecessarily technical. His book will interest economists in Europe by reason of its subject and treatment, but it is also a valuable and reliable textbook for students tackling integration as part of a course of International Economics and for those studying Public Finance. He distinguishes between the various forms of integration (free trade area, customs union, common market, economics union, and total integration). In addition, he applies the theoretical principles to current projects such as the European Common Market and Free Trade Area, and to Latin American integration projects. In offering this theoretical study, the author builds on the conclusions of other writers, but goes beyond this in providing a unifying framework for previous contributions and in exploring questions that in the past received little attention – in particular, the relationship between economic integration and growth (especially the interrelationship between market size and growth, and the implications of various factors for economic growth in an integrated area).

The book provides a comprehensive and critical analysis of the theoretical and empirical literature in international economics arising from the proliferation of regional integration schemes in the last four decades. The focus is on the pure theoretical and empirical work in the field, covering all recent developments in theoretical work and measurement techniques in regional integration. The new book fully updates the analysis in the author's very well received The Theory and Measurement of International Economic Integration (1989) to take into account the impact of a further decade of rapid integration around the world. Detailed empirical analysis of the major integration schemes themselves can be found in the author's collection International Economic Integration (1997).

The books fills a niche in the market for books on regional integration, where most of the publications deal with theory or the analysis of specific cases, almost no books can be found dealing with analytical methodology The book includes a combination of well-known and expert scholars and up and coming young academics The book will appeal strongly to both economists and politics and while the authors present an interdisciplinary approach the economists and political sceintsists approaches are kept separate

This set of contemporary articles provides a uniquely comprehensive survey of international economic integration, covering the full range of theoretical and practical developments in the field over the past fifty years, and suggesting directions for future research. Topics covered in the 120 articles selected include: * the theory and measurement of international integration * monetary aspects and factor mobility * competition and industrial policy * regional policy and location of firms * agriculture * integration schemes. This set will prove an invaluable standard reference for researchers and students of international economics.

International economic integration has played a significant part in economic policy decisions for most countries and regions throughout the world over decades. This text looks at why the success of integration schemes has been so variable and what the prospects are for integration in the future.