Multilateral disciplines for investment-related policies

Bernard Hoekman () and Kamal Saggi ()

No 2138, Policy Research Working Paper Series from The World Bank

Abstract: The authors evaluate the potential benefits of international disciplines on policies toward foreign direct investment for developing countries. They conclude that the case for initiating negotiations on investment policies is weak at present. Negotiating efforts that center on further liberalizing market access on a non-discriminatory basis - especially for services - are likely to be more fruitful in terms of economic welfare and growth. Existing multilateral instruments, although imperfect, are far from fully exploited and provide significant opportunities for governments opening further access to markets. The authors conclude that priority should be given to expanding coverage of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) before seeking to negotiate general disciplines on investment policies.

Keywords: Labor Policies; Environmental Economics&Policies; Health Economics&Finance; Economic Theory&Research; Decentralization; Health Economics&Finance; TF054105-DONOR FUNDED OPERATION ADMINISTRATION FEE INCOME AND EXPENSE ACCOUNT; Environmental Economics&Policies; Economic Theory&Research; Trade and Regional Integration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1999-06-30
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