Reconciling Trade and the Environment: Lessons from Case Studies in Developing Countries

The link between trade and the environment has focused on two broad issues: how changing trade regimes have affected the environment and how stricter environmental regulations have affected trade. The answers are of particular importance to developing and transition countries where the relationship between trade and the environment has a major impact. This unique book, based on eleven case studies undertaken by research institutes in developing countries with the support of UNCTAD and UNDP, provides detailed empirical evidence from Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Malaysia, The Philippines, Poland, Thailand, Turkey and Zimbabwe. The central questions addressed are: has the international programme of trade liberalization affected the environment negatively? are stricter environmental regulations in both developed and developing countries having an effect on exports and imports and how can these effects be addressed? what impacts, if any, result from differences in environmental standards between richer and poorer countries? what impacts have multilateral environmental agreements had on trade flows between developed and developing countries what impacts are firms' voluntary measures to protect the environment having on the export flows from developing and transition countries? The book provides a wealth of information and shows a wide difference of outcomes from country to country, allowing the authors to draw an interesting set of conclusions. It will be useful for students and researchers in environmental and international economics and will be essential reading for policymakers in government and non-governmental organizations.

Table of Contents:
Contents: Foreword 1. Overview and Lessons Learnt 2. Environmental Policy, Market Access and Competitiveness: The Experience of Developing Countries 3. Policy Instruments in Multilateral Environmental Agreements: Experience of Developing Countries 4. Brazil 5. China 6. Colombia 7. Costa Rica 8. India 9. Malaysia 10. The Philippines 11. Poland 12. Thailand 13. Turkey 14. Zimbabwe 15. Conclusions and Guidelines for Further Work Index

About the Author :
Veena Jha, CEO, Ikdhvaj Advisers LLP, India, Anil Markandya, Basque Centre for Climate Change, Spain and Honorary Professor, University of Bath, UK and René Vossenaar, formerly Chief, Trade, Environment and Development Section, UNCTAD, Geneva, Switzerland

Review :
'The main contribution of the volume by Jha et al is the wealth of empirical material presented on the case study countries. Until this book was published, there was little material available on the impact of trade on the environment of specific developing countries.' 'This book provides a very useful and welcome contribution to the understanding of the dynamic relationship between liberalized trade and environmental protection.'