eprintid: 30039
rev_number: 15
eprint_status: archive
userid: 3114
dir: disk0/00/03/00/39
datestamp: 2021-06-09 13:04:14
lastmod: 2021-06-16 10:18:25
status_changed: 2021-06-09 13:04:14
type: workingPaper
metadata_visibility: show
creators_name: Cruzatti C., John
title: Free Trade Agreements and Development: a Global Analysis with Local Data
subjects: ddc-330
divisions: i-181000
keywords: FTAs, Human Development, Economic Activity, Inequality
abstract: This paper analyzes the effects of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) on various measures of local development in 207 countries over the 1990-2015 period. Using a Difference-in-Differences approach, I exploit spatial and time variation by comparing regions with (exogenously determinded) exploitable and non-exploitable land before and after FTAs are "activated". I show that FTAs have a limited yet positive  impact on a region's human development (as measured by the Human Development Index). The results also indicate that this limited impact can be explained by the positive effects of Free Trade Agreements on economic activity (night lights and GDP), together with the lack of significant influence on patterns of inequality (distribution of night lights among population). Finally, I also show that FTAs' impacts on human development are stronger for urbanized regions. Conversely, there is neither clear evidence of a weaker positive effect if trade partners belong to the Global North nor if the agreements include arrangements beyond the elimination of tariffs and quotas.
date: 2021-05
id_scheme: DOI
id_number: 10.11588/heidok.00030039
schriftenreihe_cluster_id: sr-3
schriftenreihe_order: 0702
ppn_swb: 1760570184
own_urn: urn:nbn:de:bsz:16-heidok-300398
language: eng
bibsort: CRUZATTICJFREETRADEA202105
full_text_status: public
series: Discussion Paper Series / University of Heidelberg, Department of Economics
volume: 0702
place_of_pub: Heidelberg
pages: 66
citation:   Cruzatti C., John  (2021) Free Trade Agreements and Development: a Global Analysis with Local Data.  [Working paper]     
document_url: https://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/volltextserver/30039/1/Cruzatti_2021_dp702.pdf