Recent Trade Policies and An Approach to Further Reform in the Baltics, Russia, and Other Countries of the Former Soviet Union
IMF Working Papers, July 1, 1996
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- Recent Trade Policies and An Approach to Further Reform in the Baltics, Russia, and Other Countries of the Former Soviet Union
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Bibliographic details
- Authors: Michael P. Leidy, Ali Ibrahim
- Published: July 1, 1996
- Series: IMF Working Papers
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781451959970.001
Scope and Objective
- Reviews the extent to which the Fund’s trade policy advice to the Baltic countries, Russia and other countries of the Former Soviet Union has been implemented.
- Broadly traces the evolution of trade policies, emphasizing the period from mid-1993 through end-1995.
- Attempts to identify factors affecting uneven progress in trade reform.
- Uses insights from the public choice literature on endogenous policy theory to make recommendations for refining Fund advice aimed at facilitating future progress on the trade-policy front.
Key Findings and Analytical Emphases
- Emphasis on implementation: assesses how Fund trade policy advice was translated into actual policies in the Baltics, Russia, and other FSU countries.
- Time coverage: focuses on policy evolution during mid-1993 through end-1995.
- Diagnosis of uneven reform: identifies multiple factors that affected uneven progress in trade liberalization across countries in the region.
- Theoretical lens: applies public choice literature and endogenous policy theory to interpret policy choices and reform trajectories.
Policy Recommendations (High-level)
- Refine Fund advice drawing on public choice/endogenous policy theory insights to better facilitate trade-policy progress.
- Tailor reform strategies to country-specific political economy constraints that explain uneven implementation.
- Emphasize mechanisms that improve the credibility and sustainability of trade liberalization efforts (as implied by the application of endogenous policy theory).
Subjects and Keywords
- Subjects: Exports, Imports, International trade, Tariffs, Taxes, Trade liberalization, Trade policy
- Keywords: Baltics, customs union, exchange rate, export tax, Exports, factor market, free trade, FSU country, government import program, Imports, order system, Tariffs, Trade liberalization, Trade policy, trade regime, WP