Essays on International trade and economic growth

At present, we are witnessing globalization as a truly worldwide phenomenon. Trade agreements among differing countries, a reduction in trade costs, the mobility of production factors, the free flow of information and so on are all proof of the present day era of globalization. Countries are trading with one another more and more every day and the effects of international trade on economies represent a central discussion in all economic spheres. In spite of increasing trade around the world and the promotion of globalization by multilateral organisms such as WTO and IMF, the effects of international trade are not yet clear. Economics literature concerning the effects of international trade on economic growth and welfare remains ambiguous in terms of both theoretical models and empirical research. The present thesis tries to contribute to the theoretical debate surrounding the effects of dynamic international trade, focusing in particular on the implications for economic growth, welfare and changes in the preferences of individuals.

Labour market, international trade, and unemployment in a less developed country

This paper constructs a trade general equilibrium model for a less developed country with three sectors. One is the informal and un-tradable sector characterized by ��exible wages, while the other two sectors are tradable, export and import sectors. The model imposes a binding minimum wage over the unskilled labour and e�� cient wage distortions on the skilled labour. Comparative statics is driven to analyze the e��ects on the labour market as consequence of opening the economy, raising the minimum wage and the introduction of an augmenting productivity in the export sector.

Small states and the promotion of their foreign policy agenda in the international scenario: Trinidad and Tobago and the Kyoto Protocol

Este estudio de caso busca identificar los elementos del portafolio de pol��tica exterior de Trinidad y Tobago que le permitieron promover exitosamente sus intereses en el Protocolo de Kioto. Al hacer esto, este texto analizar�� las limitaciones de Trinidad y Tobago en t��rminos de vulnerabilidades de localizaci��n, burocracia y recursos. Posteriormente, una revisi��n del portafolio de pol��tica exterior de este Estado ilustrar�� el uso de estrategias de creaci��n de capacidades y de organizaci��n como lo son el contacto con actores institucionales y no gubernamentales, la formaci��n de coaliciones y estrategias argumentativas, entre otras. Finalmente, este art��culo concluir�� que dichas acciones permitieron la promoci��n de la agenda de pol��tica exterior de Trinidad y Tobago a trav��s de la creaci��n de hojas de ruta y la coordinaci��n de la incertidumbre con el Protocolo de Kioto. Para hacer esto, este trabajo se concentrar�� en examinar conceptos como vulnerabilidad y priorizaci��n, asimismo contrastando diferentes art��culos acad��micos en la materia junto con documentos oficiales de Trinidad y Tobago.

Sustainable Development and the Right to Water in Colombia

Water, considered as an environmental resource and as an economic and social good, should be part of the Colombian public agenda, not only not only in terms of the use and preservation of hydro resources, but also in terms of the social implications of its possession and use. The world wide preoccupation with the diminution of natural resources, species extinction and water shortage has its origins in the seventies. One of the results was the establishment of international conventions and agreements to achieve responsible management of natural resources. Regarding water as a resource, it is intrinsically bound to the Earth���s natural processes and ecosystems. As regards the Colombian case, the ���right to water in Colombia��� is analyzed taking into account: water as an integral part of sustainable development, the right to water as a global debate and, finally, the right to water in the Colombian context within the explanatory framework of the Water Referendum.