Seminario Internal Seminar: Filippo Santi

Abstract

Using a dataset covering more than 120 countries spanning several decades, we employ a synthetic difference-in-difference estimator to study whether non-trade provisions (NTPs) on labour standards, environmental protection and civil and human rights in trade agreements yield improvements in corresponding indicators. We distinguish between binding (enforceable) and non-binding provisions and investigate linkages between NTPs and official development assistance (ODA).  We find no evidence that labour or civil rights-related provisions improved associated outcome indicators in the sample period, while evidence on environmental outcomes is mixed. ODA is significantly greater with non-binding environmental and civil rights provisions, but not with labour standards.