The Doha Round’s Development Impacts: Shrinking Gains and Real Costs
Author(s)
Wise, Timothy A.; Gallagher, Kevin P.
Abstract
This article analyzes the primary reasons why the World Bank’s projections for the gains attributable to global trade liberalization fell from $832 billion to $287 billion on the eve of the World Trade Organization’s Hong Kong Ministerial Negotiations. The authors also argue that the World Bank study identifies only the potential benefits, but disregards the costs. Many of the proposals in agriculture, services, intellectual property, and non-agricultural market access will squeeze the ability of nations to deploy effective development strategies. Such a loss of policy space will not only be legally constraining, but will come at significant economic cost as well.
