Journal article
Authors list: Langbein, Julia; Cenusa, Denis; Guruli, Irina
Publication year: 2024
Pages: 213-234
Journal: Journal of European Integration
Volume number: 46
Issue number: 2
ISSN: 0703-6337
eISSN: 1477-2280
Open access status: Hybrid
DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/07036337.2023.2270773
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group
Abstract:
This paper contributes to the literature on EU trade policy by introducing insights from the political economy literature on development to the study of how EU trade liberalisation affects development in trading partners. Drawing on a comparison of EU trade liberalisation with Moldova and Georgia, we argue that the type of coalition between public and private actors in partner countries' top export sectors determines which firms benefit from better market access to the EU, as indicated by their ability to increase their exports. We show that liberalised trade with the EU tends to contribute to achieving the EU's declared objective of inclusive development if the presence of inclusionary development coalitions ensures that a broad range of firms is enabled to increase their export capacities through a mechanism that we call 'inclusive empowerment'. Otherwise, trade liberalisation contributes to exclusive development, benefitting big, mostly foreign firms, or, at worse, consolidating rent-seeking practices.
Citation Styles
Harvard Citation style: Langbein, J., Cenusa, D. and Guruli, I. (2024) EU trade liberalisation, sectoral coalitions and development: insights from Moldova and Georgia, Journal of European Integration, 46(2), pp. 213-234. https://doi.org/10.1080/07036337.2023.2270773
APA Citation style: Langbein, J., Cenusa, D., & Guruli, I. (2024). EU trade liberalisation, sectoral coalitions and development: insights from Moldova and Georgia. Journal of European Integration. 46(2), 213-234. https://doi.org/10.1080/07036337.2023.2270773