Free trade in the Americas : economic and political issues for governments and firms ; [Conference on Trade Liberalization in the Western Hemisphere sponsored by Saint Mary's University, Halifax in autumn 2002

This book examines the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), an ambitious venture in regional market integration which builds on the principles of the North American Free Trade Agreement. It assesses the long-term corporate and public policy measures to cope with the increased monetary, fiscal and structural interdependence that will be required if the benefits of the FTAA are to be realised. The contributors suggest that with enlightened US leadership and the cooperation of Brazil, Mexico and Argentina, the FTAA could eventually match the EU in the world economy and as a multilateral leader. Initiatives to promote a culture of relational cooperation in a system of liberalized global commerce are stressed. In Latin America, there is an urgent need for such cooperation in order to enhance the region's lacklustre growth rate and reduce the occurrences and severity of financial crises. The United States, Canada and Mexico will also benefit from the development of dynamic structural links with their regional neighbours. The authors highlight the importance for US policy initiatives to be complemented by constructive and harmonious corporate collaborations. This spirit of alliance capitalism will help ensure the FTAA promotes social justice as well as economic efficiency. This fully integrated volume, written by leading specialists in the field, will become an indispensable source for analysis of the prospects and role of the FTAA in the global economy. It will be warmly welcomed by informed readers such as international business experts, bankers, corporate executives, economists dealing with fiscal and monetary integration, and those interested in Latin American business. This book examines the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), an ambitious venture in regional market integration which builds on the principles of the North American Free Trade Agreement. It assesses the long-term corporate and public policy measures to cope with the increased monetary, fiscal and structural interdependence that will be required if the benefits of the FTAA are to be realized.The contributors suggest that with enlightened US leadership and the cooperation of Brazil, Mexico and Argentina, the FTAA could eventually match the EU in the world economy and as a multilateral leader. Initiatives to promote a culture of relational cooperation in a system of liberalized global commerce are stressed. In Latin America, there is an urgent need for such cooperation in order to enhance the region's lackluster growth rate and reduce the occurrences and severity of financial crises. The United States, Canada and Mexico will also benefit from the development of dynamic structural links with their regional neighbours. The authors highlight the importance for US policy initiatives to be complemented by constructive and harmonious corporate collaborations. This spirit of alliance capitalism will help ensure the FTAA promotes social justice as well as economic efficiency.This fully integrated volume, written by leading specialists in the field, will become an indispensable source for analysis of the prospects and role of the FTAA in the global economy. It will be warmly welcomed by informed readers such as international business experts, bankers, corporate executives, economists dealing with fiscal and monetary integration, and those interested in Latin American business. This Volume Is The Result Of A Conference On Trade Liberalization In The Western Hemisphere Sponsored By Saint Mary's University, Halifax, In The Autumn Of 2002--foreword. Potential For Hemispheric Regional Cooperation / Sidney Weintraub -- The Political Economy Of Development In Latin America / Gavin Boyd -- Structural Partnering Potential Of The Us Economy / Walid Hejazi -- Economic Integration In North America: Implications For The Americas / Alan M. Rugman -- What Institutional Design For North America? / Gordon Mace, Louis Belanger -- The Future Of Mercosur / Heinz G. Preusse -- The European Experience Of Economic Integration / Paul Brenton, Miriam Manchin -- Hemispheric Monetary Cooperation / Gavin Boyd -- Western Hemisphere Energy Development: The Continuing Search For Security / Stephen J. Randall -- Hemispheric Alliance Capitalism And Structural Partnering / Gavin Boyd -- Developmental Issues Posed By The Ftaa / Jose M. Salazar-xirinachs -- The Hemisphere In The International Political Economy / Sidney Weintraub, Gavin Boyd. Edited By Sidney Weintraub, Alan M. Rugman, Gavin Boyd. This Volume Is The Result Of A Conference On Trade Liberalization In The Western Hemisphere Sponsored By Saint Mary's University, Halifax, In The Autumn Of 2002--foreword. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Free Trade in the Americas......Page 1 Contents......Page 5 Figures......Page 6 Tables......Page 7 Contributors......Page 8 Foreword......Page 9 Preface......Page 11 1. Potential for hemispheric regional cooperation......Page 13 2. The political economy of development in Latin America......Page 37 3. Structural partnering potential of the US economy......Page 56 4. Economic integration in North America: implications for the Americas......Page 102 5. What institutional design for North America?......Page 119 6. The future of MERCOSUR......Page 139 7. The European experience of economic integration......Page 165 8. Hemispheric monetary cooperation......Page 185 9. Western hemisphere energy development: the continuing search for security......Page 201 10. Hemispheric alliance capitalism and structural partnering......Page 222 11. Developmental issues posed by the FTAA......Page 245 12. The hemisphere in the international political economy......Page 285 Index......Page 297