Overseas Development Institute - Theme: Trade

How will EU trade policy respond to new challenges in the coming decade? (ODI Blog Posts, 6 February 2012)

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

'There are good ideas in this timely communication, but some proposed actions could turn out to be protectionist and harm development, whilst further concrete actions are needed to promote policy coherence for development.'

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Rio+20: The future we want, the debate we need (ODI Blog Posts, 16 January 2012)

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

‘The outcome document has already sparked comments ... so let’s use the time from now until the Summit in June 2012 to debate the key issues.’

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Time for the World Trade Organization to change tack (ODI Blog Posts, 19 December 2011)

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

'The time has come for the WTO to consider its future and assess the importance of trade guardianship as well as ongoing liberalisation... The 8th Ministerial may mark the beginning of a redesign process of the WTO, which holds exciting prospects and challenges in equal measure, but it is important that developmental concerns remain at the centre of it all.'

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A problem-driven WTO for the 21st Century (ODI Blog Posts, 14 December 2011)

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

'Trade is a solution to global challenges. The WTO is more important than we realise as long as it can adapt itself to 21st Century challenges and become more problem-driven.'

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Development Policy Review (Development Policy Review vol. 30, iss. 1, December 2011)

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 12:00:00 GMT

Articles in the latest issue explore financing of social protection, challenges to poverty monitoring and assessment systems, and MDG achievements and policies in education and health.

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Energy efficiency in developing countries for the manufacturing sector (Discussion papers, December 2011)

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:00:00 GMT

This working paper presents an overview of series of papers which contributed to the UNIDO Industrial Development Report 2011. The papers were structured in 4 different studies: An econometric study about the link between energy intensity levels (dependant variable) and total factor productivity (independent variable); An econometric analysis about the relationship between profitability (dependant variable) and energy intensity (independent variable); A decomposition analysis to discriminate energy efficiency and structural change components of the energy intensity shifts, and a discrete choice analysis to investigate factors determining the adoption of energy efficiency technology in developing countries.

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Upgrading in value chains: the basis for a new book, 'Markets and Rural Poverty' (Articles and blogs, 3 October 2011)

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

In this blog post Christopher Coles discusses utilising value chain analysis as an approach to development, and summarises conclusions from the new book 'Markets and Rural Poverty: Upgrading in Value Chains '.

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Greek Dra(ch)ma at the G20: kicking the Cannes down the road, but all roads lead to ... Rome (ODI Blog Posts, 7 November 2011)

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

'It is beyond economic belief that...the European Central Bank are not more forthcoming. No wonder emerging powers are concerned and prefer to wait for clearer European signals before they offer help.'

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Export diversification and climate change: overcoming the new physical and regulatory constraints (Commonwealth Trade Hot Topics 89, October 2011)

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

This article introduces several emerging physical and regulatory challenges to traditional export diversification strategies and then discusses some of the potential development-friendly approaches to dealing with these concerns.

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GSP graduation: will it reduce poverty? (ODI Project Briefings 67, October 2011)

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 15:00:00 GMT

Europe is reviewing the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), its broadest-based trade policy to support developing country exports. This Project Briefing summarises ODI research, including case studies on Bangladesh, China, India, Kenya, Madagascar and Viet Nam, to identify the potential impact of proposals on key exports.

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The poverty impact of the proposed graduation threshold in the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) trade scheme (Research reports and studies, October 2011)

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

This report show the level at which graduation sets ‘the bar’ for assessing the relative effectiveness in reducing poverty of the alternatives.

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The new Danish coalition government’s changed approach to development (ODI Blog Posts, 13 October 2011)

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Following Denmark’s General Election on 15 September 2011 which led to a centre-left minority coalition and brought 10 years of right-wing coalition government to an end, this blog reviews Denmark’s foreign policy and discusses whether the new government's approach to development has changed.

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EU agriculture policy 'still hurting farmers in developing countries' (Quoted in The Guardian, 10 October 2011)

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 22:00:00 GMT

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The achievements and risks of Aid for Trade (Articles and blogs, October 2011)

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 11:00:00 GMT

This article reviews different types of Aid for Trade (AfT) and argues that some types of trade support are still under-provided and that there are serious risks of conflict of interest in some types of trade support.

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Biofuels in Eastern Africa: dangers yes, but much potential as well (ODI Project Briefings 66, September 2011)

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 10:00:00 GMT

This Project Briefing explores biofuel production in four countries in Eastern Africa - Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique and Tanzania. It examines major investments, the potential to produce feedstock, and policies in place to foster and regulate the industry.

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Another shock - can the G20 come to the rescue once more? (ODI Blog Posts, 23 September 2011)

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

In the midst of a debt, equity and policy crisis, confidence is sliding amidst lags in global policy responses. Are developing countries and the international community prepared for another round of crises? And what is different this time? And who can come to the rescue? Dirk Willem te Velde explores the global community's response to current and ongoing economic shocks.

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Making the EU's Common Agricultural Policy coherent with development goals (ODI Briefing Papers 69, September 2011)

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 11:00:00 GMT

This ODI Briefing Paper calls for a fresh look at the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy alongside development goals and the new global context.

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Impact of multilateral development finance institutions on economic growth (Research reports and studies, August 2011)

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 11:00:00 GMT

This paper analyses the macroeconomic impact of multilateral development finance institutions (DFIs) on economic growth, and the extent to which DFIs can foster growth.

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The role of development finance institutions in tackling global challenges (Research reports and studies, August 2011)

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 11:00:00 GMT

This paper explores the role that development finance institutions (DFIs) have in tackling global challenges, offering a general methodology to estimate the impact of DFIs on investment - especially during financial crises and in post-conflict periods - and the ability of DFIs to improve energy efficiency.

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Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan (29 November - 1 December 2011 - Conference)

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 22:00:00 GMT

Ministers from across the globe, from both developing and donor countries, government representatives, parliamentarians, civil society organisations and private sector representatives have come together for the Fourth High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan, Korea, from 29 November to 1 December 2011.

ODI has produced a range of inputs of relevance to HLF-4, to inform debates and reflect on the challenges and opportunities for policy-makers and the development community. The Busan meeting follows previous conferences in Accra and Paris. These meetings delivered the Accra Agenda for Action and the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness.

We are also producing short audio commentaries throughout the conference.

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Achieving pro-poor growth through investment in rural feeder roads: the role of impact evaluation (ODI Background Notes, August 2011)

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

It has been argued that investment in rural transport infrastructure could be considered pre-requisites for growth and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). However there is little formal evidence on their benefits to households or to enterprises. This Background Note provides suggestions on what state-of-the-art aid-for-trade (AfT) impact evaluations could look like.

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Taking stock of Aid for Trade (ODI Blog Posts, 21 July 2011)

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The 3rd Global Review of Aid for Trade took place in Geneva this week. ODI Research Fellow Yurendra Bassnet summarises the verdict and highlights ongoing challenges in this ODI blog post.

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How can the G-20 Development Working Group continue to support growth? Looking ahead to 2012 (ODI Blog Posts, 24 June 2011)

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Dirk Willem te Velde calls for a tenth pillar of growth - natural resource management - for the G-20 Development Working Group to consider.

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The future of the world trading system (22 July 2011 13:00-14:30 (GMT+01 (BST)) - Public event, London)

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

After a decade of negotiations, there are few signs that the long-running Doha round of global trade talks will be finalised soon. Looking forward, trade officials now openly speak about a so-called “plan B” involving salvaging non-divisive issues from the current round and agreeing upon those as a stand-alone agreement. This event will investigate the key factors shaping the future world trading system.

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Supply chain risk and sustainability: potential for partnership (Articles and blogs, 10 June 2011)

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

There has never been a better time for the development community to engage with the corporate agenda and help the private sector deal with today's fast-changing and volatile operating environment, says Christopher Coles in this Business Fights Poverty blog.

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