‘Extreme uncertainty’ is a Brexit catchphrase that applies fully to the UK’s future trade relationship with developing countries - which includes many Commonwealth member countries - as well as with the remaining EU members.This compilation of essays...

Public policies in taxation and revenue management are key to ensuring natural resource wealth results in economic development. Tax policy and systems should ensure that whenever natural resources are extracted, the host state receives a fair share...

The global financial crisis of 2007–08 triggered a plethora of regulatory reforms under the auspices of international bodies such as the G20 and Financial Stability Board. Yet the implementation of these reforms remains a task for individual countries.

An increase in external shocks, international terrorism and natural disasters over the past two decades has led to unsustainable debt burdens in small and vulnerable states, resulting in debt restructuring programmes. This paper highlights the...

This Economic Paper assesses new innovative measures in trade in service negotiations that reflect the vulnerabilities and challenges faced by developing countries. It outlines the approaches that can help small and lowincome countries employ the...

This Economic Paper assesses the potential trade effects of rules on procurement policies in Commonwealth ACP countries. It provides a practical guide for policymakers and negotiators to determine the impact of government procurement rules and...

This Economic Paper presents the first analyses of the use and effectiveness of Aid for Trade (AfT), the initiative to help developing countries boost their involvement in the global economy, for small and vulnerable economies (SVEs). It examines in...

This is the first study to look at the trade effects on small states of the current global slowdown. Export industries in these countries have been affected at least as much as those of other developing countries. Given their reliance on trade, this...

Small states are vulnerable to the effects of the global financial crisis because of their high dependence on foreign direct investment, the importance for them of export earnings, and high levels of remittances and aid flows. The crisis thus also in...

The Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the ECOWAS states of West Africa envisages cooperation between the two sides with the aim of enhancing investment and private sector development in the ECOWAS region. This study...

This report on the CARIFORUM and Pacific ACP Economic Partnership Agreements analyses the detailed implications for the economies of the countries involved of commitments signed or initialled, including an indication of the broad country and...

This Economic Paper considers the likely effects on African, Caribbean and Pacific countries of the European Union’s Directive on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing, planned to be implemented from 2010. It will be difficult for...

In today’s world, responses to global challenges can only be achieved by collective debate and action. A coordinated response is required to achieve satisfactory and sustainable outcomes, however, international institutions are no longer placed to...

Gender responsive budgeting is a key instrument to track how governments are investing in advancing gender equality and equity. While most studies of gender responsive budgeting work so far have examined the expenditure side of the budget, the...

This Economic Paper presents, for the first time, quantitative evidence of the effectiveness of Aid for Trade, the initiative to promote development by providing resources targeted at boosting involvement in international trade by developing...

Efforts to boost international trade as a means to foster economic growth, known as Aid for Trade, have become an important issue for both aid donors and recipients. However, significant ambiguity remains regarding what is and what is not Aid for...

Studies on gendersensitive budgeting have concentrated on the expenditure side of government budgets. Through a case study from India, Nirmala Banerjee explores the other side of the budget – taxes and other means of raising revenue. By highlighting...

About one fifth of all politically independent countries are small island developing states. For these countries, sustainable development is not a matter of choice, it is imperative.Highly vulnerable due to their size and isolation, small states have...

What are the characteristics of current intraCommonwealth trade, and how can it be encouraged to grow?Trading on Commonwealth Ties identifies opportunities for stimulating trade within the Commonwealth, but warns against setting up a free trade...

In recent years there has been a significant rise in the indebtedness of small states. However, unlike major debtors and the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPCs), the emerging debt problems of small, mainly middle income, states have received...