Trade, Growth and Economic Inequality in the AsiaPacific Region: Lessons for Policymakers

Theresa Greaney and Baybars Karacaovali

No 201624, Working Papers from University of Hawaii at Manoa, Department of Economics

Abstract: This policy brief is intended to provide policymakers with a summary of the results of our research project entitled "Trade, Growth and Economic Inequality in the Asia-Pacific Region", which explores and documents the linkages between international trade and inequality in the Asia-Pacific Region (APR). The project's eleven research papers will appear in a special issue of the Journal of Asian Economics in February, 2017. Overall we conclude that the relationships between international trade, foreign direct investment (FDI), economic growth and inequality are extremely complicated, so no single theory should be relied upon for policy guidance across all APR countries with their varying stages of development and unique characteristics. Our studies find some evidence that trade or FDI contribute to inequality, some evidence that it reduces inequality and some evidence of no causal relationship. These seemingly conflicting results are not at all surprising given the complex relationships involved and the different countries, time periods, and means of measuring inequality, trade and FDI our authors adopted. Our main takeaway for policymakers is to be wary of both anti-trade and pro-trade advocates who provide "one size fits all" advice related to trade, FDI and inequality; these economic relationships are much too complex for that.

Keywords: International trade; foreign direct investment; economic growth; economic inequality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F13 F14 F16 F21 F23 J31 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016-12
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-int and nep-sea
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Journal Article: Trade, Growth and Economic Inequality in the Asia-Pacific Region: Lessons for Policymakers (2017)
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