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KEY PUBLICATIONS AND ONLINE
RESOURCES
TRADE AND INVESTMENT IN
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
This page was updated
on: 01/12/10
BILATERAL INVESTMENT TREATIES AND
DEVELOPMENT POLICY MAKING
(IISD 2004) Authored
by Luke Peterson, this paper looks at the impacts of bilateral
investment treaties on development-oriented policy making. It assesses
the major elements of concern in various formulations of key
obligations, and the types of desirable policies they might prevent.
The
paper.
IMPLICATIONS OF THE COTONOU AGREEMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN
THE ACP COUNTRIES AND BEYOND
(IISD 2004) Written by
Konrad von Moltke, this paper
assesses the Cotonou Partnership Agreement (CPA) – an agreement between
the EU and a group of African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries,
most of them former colonies, which relies heavily on the benefits of
trade liberalization, complemented by EU aid in various forms. The paper
considers whether the CPA will promote sustainable development, and what
needs to be done to ensure that it does.
The
paper.
A MODEL INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT
AGREEMENT FOR THE PROMOTION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
(IISD 2004) Written by
Konrad von Moltke, this
paper proposes a model for international investment agreements that
explicitly aims to foster sustainable development as opposed to merely
focusing on investor rights.
The
paper.
A CAPABILITIES APPROACH TO TRADE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: USING
SEN'S CONCEPTION OF DEVELOPMENT TO RE-EXAMINE THE DEBATES
(IISD 2004) Authored by Aaron
Cosbey, this paper takes the thinking of Nobel laureate Amartya Sen and
uses it to devise a comprehensive new definition of sustainable
development. It then asks how trade and trade liberalization might
contribute to sustainable development and surveys a web of potential
impacts, drawing lessons for civil society, developing countries and the
WTO negotiations from the analysis.
The
paper.
FOREIGN AID RESURGENT NEW SPIRIT OR
OLD HANGOVER?
(UNU/WIDER July 2004) Prepared by P.
Burnell, this paper explores the future of development aid. It takes
note of the decline of aid in the 1990's, and its sudden resurgence in
recent years. Burnell notes that two factors – globalization and
poverty, and heightened security concerns since 11 September 2001 – have
led to the resurgence in development aid and highlight their uneasy
relationship, recommending that aid should target pro-poor development
rather than democratic reform. The
paper.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA: DEBT
SUSTAINABILITY, OASIS OR MIRAGE?
(UNCTAD, 2004) This study examines debt
sustainability in Africa and makes recommendation on how to deal with
Africa's debt overhang, including through adoption of new approaches or
through a major revision and improvement of present debt relief
policies. The
report.
PARTNERSHIPS IN DEVELOPMENT: PROGRESS IN
THE FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY
(World Bank, 2004)
Over the last decade, the World Bank has
published eight Poverty Progress Reports focusing primarily on trends in
income poverty and the Bank's poverty reduction efforts. This new report
shows how the World Bank Group is working to help countries move towards
poverty reduction as embodied in the MDGs and the Monterrey Consensus,
spotlighting Bank-supported policies and programmes. The six sections of
the report: explore the challenge
of reducing poverty as outlined in the MDGs; discusses the international
response to poverty and outlines necessary priorities for poverty
reduction; presents the World Bank's to support country-led poverty
reduction strategies; discusses the Bank's analytical, technical, and
financial assistance of poverty reduction strategies; discusses Bank
partnerships with other donors to harmonize assistance for national
poverty reduction efforts and to spur the provision of global public
goods to address global issues; and summarizes the key priorities for
quicker and more efficient poverty reduction. The
report.
WORLD TRADE REPORT
(WTO, September 2004) The
2004 World Trade Report considers recent trends in world trade, as well
as the impact of national policies on trade patterns. Published by the
World Trade Organization, the report argues strongly for
coherence in policy formulation,
observing that inconsistent positions can hurt valuable trading
opportunities. The report also includes essays
examining topical trade issues, including the question of
"non-reciprocal trade preferences" used by industrialized nations to
assist countries in the developing world. A second essay considers
the potential gains in the service sector from allowing the temporary
cross-country movement of people with relevant skills, while another
essay focuses on the thorny question of "geographical indications" –
such as wines or spirits that are identified with a particular region –
and how strongly such property rights should be protected.
The
report.
2003/2004 AFRICAN ECONOMIC OUTLOOK
(OECD, September 2004) Prepared by the
OECD Development Centre and the African Development Bank, the African
Economic Outlook provides an annual assessment of economic and social
developments in African countries, based on data for the 22 most
significant African economies. According to the publication, Africa has
witnessed relatively good economic progress in the last year, despite
slow global economic growth. However it notes that under current
scenarios, Sub-Saharan Africa will likely not attain the most of the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and that half of the continent is
behind on the hunger target and farther behind on the education and
health targets. Only Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, and
Mauritius are on track for achieving the poverty-related target. With
its special focus on "Energy Supply and Poverty," this edition of the
report examines ways in which improvements in energy supply can
contribute to poverty alleviation and achieving the MDGs. The
report.
G-20 WEBSITE LAUNCHED
This website was launched on 20 August 2004 to mark the
first anniversary of the creation of the G-20 group of developing
countries. The site offers information on the group's members and their
work, including statistics, press releases, statements, proposals and
links to other relevant websites. The G-20 was established prior to the
5th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) that
was held in Cancún in September 2003, with a view to bringing together
countries with an interest in eliminating trade distortions in
agricultural products. The website.
WORLD INVESTMENT REPORT
2004
(UNCTAD, September 2004) This
annual report considers the latest trends in foreign direct investment,
both globally and regionally. The report, which was produced by the UN
Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), points to changes in
investment patterns at a regional level. The latest report looks in
particular at changes in the service sector, including the recent trend
towards shifting corporate services offshore – usually from the
industrialized world to developing countries. Finally, the report also
analyzes national and international policies on foreign direct
investment, noting that sound national policies are important if the
benefits of inward investment are to be maximized. The new report is
scheduled for release on 22 September 2004. For more information, visit:
http://www.unctad.org/Templates/WebFlyer.asp?intItemID=3235&lang=1
TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT
REPORT 2004
(UNCTAD, September 2004) The
latest annual UNCTAD Trade and Development Report considers
recent trends in the world economy, and particularly the linkages
between the international trading system and the international monetary
system. It argues that the systems need to be genuinely multilateral on
both counts if developing countries are to benefit fully from
globalization. The report also considers other relevant issues,
including the rising US deficit, expanding demand across much of Asia,
and currency and exchange rate issues. For more information, visit:
http://www.unctad.org/Templates/WebFlyer.asp?intItemID=3236&lang=1
IISD INVESTMENT REPORT NOW AVAILABLE
IN SPANISH
The International Institute
for Sustainable Development has just released the Spanish version of its
recent report on investment agreements and sustainable development:
Inversiones y desarrollo sustentable: Una guía referente a la
utilización actual y al futuro potencial de los acuerdos internacionales
sobre inversiones. The report catalogues some of the problems associated
with current investment treaties, and considers what an international
investment agreement would look like if it hewed to the broader goal of
achieving sustainable development. The report can be viewed, ordered, or
downloaded in English or Spanish at
http://www.iisd.org/investment
UNEP-FI AND GRI SEEK COMMENTS ON
ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
The United Nations Environment Programme
Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
are inviting contributions to the development of the GRI Financial
Services Sector Supplement (Environmental Performance), in particular on
a set of 15 draft indicators, designed to assist financial institutions
worldwide to report on the environmental impacts associated with retail
banking, commercial and corporate banking, asset management and
insurance. A Working Group, which first convened in September 2003, will
meet for a fourth time to review the feedback from this public
consultation process in October 2004. The deadline for contributions is
20 September 2004. More
information.
INVESTMENT TREATY ARBITRATION RESOURCE
WEBSITE
A new website has recently been launched
on investment treaty disputes. The site, which was created by Andrew
Newcombe of the University of Victoria in Canada, provides information
on arbitration decisions dealing with investment treaty disputes. The
website is located:
http://ita.law.uvic.ca/
PRODUCTIVE DEVELOPMENT IN OPEN
ECONOMIES
(ECLAC, June 2004) The UN
Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean has produced a
book on the region's experiences over the past two decades in pursuing
economic liberalization and responding to globalization. The review
highlights various achievements, while also exposing areas where the
region is "lagging behind" or has "unfinished business." It argues that
the focus on "more market and less State" prevalent in many countries
should give way to an emphasis on properly functioning markets and
quality in governance.
More information.
2003
ANNUAL REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENT EFFECTIVENESS: THE EFFECTIVENESS OF BANK
SUPPORT FOR POLICY REFORM
(World Bank, 2004) This review examines the effectiveness of the World
Bank's support to help borrower countries put in place policies that the
Bank considers as necessary for enabling sustainable poverty reduction.
Focusing primarily on the period from 1999 to 2003, the report finds,
inter alia, that while support has paid off in most cases, the Bank
has been less successful in countries where the environment for reform
was uncertain or in countries where it had no or weak track records. The
report indicates that good results come from different policies and
institutions, supported by different combinations of instruments and
tailored to country preferences and circumstances. It suggests that the
Bank should primarily undertake large-scale lending in situations where
policy reform is underway and that it may need to adapt its processes
and instruments, particularly those concerning managing the risks
associated with policy reform. The
review.
LESSONS LEARNED ON TRADE AND
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: DISTILLING SIX YEARS OF RESEARCH FROM THE TRADE
KNOWLEDGE NETWORK
(IISD, July 2004) This book
synthesizes lessons learned from the first six years of the Trade
Knowledge Network, a network of researchers in eight developing
countries working on issues of trade and sustainable development. It
provides an overview of issues from a Southern perspective, and can
serve a primer on trade and sustainable development issues. The chapters
address: the relationship and tension between environment and
development; trade-related environmental standards; green opportunities;
the need for strong domestic institutions for trade and environment
to be mutually supportive; the Southern agenda on trade and
environment; and the need for more research, capacity building.
The publication can downloaded at:
http://www.tradeknowledgenetwork.net/
AFRICAN ECONOMIC OUTLOOK 2003/2004
(AfDB/OECD, May 2004) The AEO
is an annual assessment of economic and social developments in African
countries. The report shows that despite progress on several fronts and
general economic growth in several countries, many will still not be
able to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This third
edition report's special focus on energy considers whether improvements
in energy supply can help alleviate poverty, and concludes that Africa's
huge energy potential remains "vastly under exploited." Based on data
from the 22 most significant African economies, this publication serves
as a reference for policy makers, donors and the private sector. The AEO
is prepared by the OECD Development Centre and the African Development
Bank.
More information.
ASIAN DEVELOPMENT OUTLOOK 2004
(Asian Development Bank, 2004)
This annual publication analyzes the economic outlook and recent trends
for 41 countries in the Asia-Pacific region. For 2003, the report found
that the region remained economically robust in spite of anxieties over
the Iraq conflict, oil price hikes, and the severe acute respiratory
syndrome (SARS) outbreak. Looking ahead, the report forecasts
intraregional trade and strong consumer demand to "define the outlook"
for the region in 2004-2005. The publication also looks at trends in
foreign direct investment. The report is available online at:
http://www.adb.org/Documents/Books/ADO/2004/default.asp
INVESTING IN STABILITY: CONFLICT RISK,
MARKETS AND THE BOTTOM-LINE
(UNEP Finance
Initiative/IISD/German Federal Ministry of Environment, Nature
Conservation and Nuclear Safety, 2004) This paper is part of a project
designed to "promote the business case for conflict prevention within
the financial sector." The report investigates various voluntary actions
that financial institutions such as banks and insurance companies can
take to avoid risks, while also supporting peace and development. The
paper employs real case studies of both failures and successes. It
suggests that UNEP's Finance Initiative unit should consider launching a
multistakeholder platform to encourage dialogue to help financial
institutions engage on these issues. The report is available at:
http://www.unepfi.net/conflict/Investing%20in%20Stability_unepfi_iisd.pdf
THE MATERIALITY OF SOCIAL,
ENVIRONMENTAL AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE ISSUES TO EQUITY PRICING
(UNEP FI, June 2004) Companies
will suffer a decline in their share prices if they do not take
environmental, social and corporate governance issues into
consideration. This is one of the key messages arising from a report
produced for the UNEP Finance Initiative Asset Management Working Group
and launched at the Global Compact Leaders Summit held on 24 June at UN
headquarters in New York. Compiled by a group of 12 fund managers
representing US$1.6 trillion in managed assets, the report, which is
based on 11 sector reports by brokerage house analysts, is the first to
examine the financial impact of environmental, social and corporate
considerations and criteria on portfolio management of mutual, pension
and other institutional funds. The research covered a range of industry
sectors, including aviation, clothing, electronics, oil and gas,
insurance, pharmaceuticals and utilities. In its research, the project
found that European brokerage houses were more willing and able to
respond to demand for environmental, social and corporate governance
research than their North American counterparts. The UNEPFI report,
informational documents and the 11 complete brokerage house analyst
reports are available at:
http://www.unepfi.net/stocks/
INVESTMENT AND SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT: A GUIDE TO THE USE AND POTENTIAL OF INTERNATIONAL
INVESTMENT AGREEMENTS
(IISD, 2004) This report
offers an overview of the features, as well as some of the shortcomings,
of international investment agreements. It argues that the agreements
should be designed to promote sustainable development through foreign
investment. The report is available at:
http://www.iisd.org/publications/publication.asp?pno=627
HEALTHY FISHERIES, SUSTAINABLE TRADE:
CRAFTING NEW RULES ON FISHING SUBSIDIES IN THE WTO
(WWF, June 2004) This new
publication by WWF argues in favor of amending rules set down by the
World Trade Organization to eliminate subsidies that cause overfishing.
The new book proposes regulating subsidies programmes "on a
fishery-by-fishery basis." It also advocates an approach that takes into
account the difficulties faced by developing countries, and supports the
involvement of regional fisheries bodies. The book's release occurs at a
time when the WTO Negotiating Group on Rules is trying to tackle the
issue of subsidies.
More information.
The
book.
GLOBAL ECONOMIC OUTLOOK 2004
(UN
DESA and Project LINK, April 2004) A project of UN DESA and Project
LINK, a cooperative, non-governmental research initiative, this report
provides an economic forecast of the world and of economies of developed
and developing countries and countries with economies in transition. The
report projects that the global economy will continue to expand
throughout 2004 before slowing down in early 2005. The report is
available at:
http://www.un.org/esa/policy/link/presentations04/geoapr04.pdf
GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT FINANCE 2004
(World Bank, April 2004) This
World Bank report highlights a strong cyclical recovery in global
capital flows to developing countries and underscores the need to
harness the gains from this cycle toward development objectives. While
it notes that the external financing environment facing developing
countries is improving, it also states that much of the developing world
continues to face difficulty in accessing international capital markets
and that ODA is far below the levels required to meet the MDGs. The
report indicates that: most of the net private capital flows to
developing countries, which has increased substantially from 2003, is
concentrated in a few relatively more affluent countries; foreign direct
investment has declined; the increase in ODA did not translate into new
resources for most developing countries, but rather materialized in the
form of debt relief, administrative costs to donor agencies and
reconstruction aid; and that non-concessional lending has decreased. It
highlights the significance of remittances as a source of capital for
developing countries, noting that these are now the second most
important financial flow to developing countries following FDI, and
represent almost double the ODA flows. The report considers the role of
trade finance in providing access to foreign capital, and role of global
and domestic capital markets in meeting the infrastructural needs of
developing countries. The report can be downloaded from:
http://www.worldbank.org/prospects/gdf2004.
THE TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE – DOES IT ALL
ADD UP?
(Earthscan/James and James,
April 2004) Edited by Adrian Henriques and Julie Richardson, this book
assesses the implications, benefits and limitations of the "triple
bottom line" – the idea that businesses can simultaneously deliver
economic, social and environmental benefits. It identifies different
approaches to corporate sustainability, examines the conceptual and
practical limits of the triple bottom line approach, outlines what can
be achieved through regulation and legislation, and presents procedures
for environmental accounting and social auditing.
This book is available from Earthscan at:
http://www.earthscan.co.uk/asp/bookdetails.asp?key=4058
DOING BUSINESS WITH THE POOR: A FIELD GUIDE
(WBCSD, March 2004) Prepared by the World
Business Council for Sustainable Development, this guide looks at how
several companies are beginning to do business with the poor, breaking
into the "untapped market of over four billion potential customers." The
publication is called a field guide as it is designed for CEOs to send
managers to work in developing countries among poor populations. The
guide advises companies to focus on core competencies when developing
pro-poor business models, tap into local networks and knowledge, and
partner with external resources that offer complementary expertise.
WBCSD believes that its members and regional partners should be in the
front lines of efforts to bring the poor into the market, in order to
decrease poverty and increase prosperity for all. The guide is available
at:
http://www.wbcsd.org/web/publications/sl-field-guide.pdf
MAXIMISING MALTA'S COMPETITIVENESS
POTENTIAL
(Islands and Small States Institute, University of Malta, April 2004)
Written by Lino Briguglio, Gordon Cordina, Tendai Bare, and RoseMarie
Endeley, this book is the product of a consultative and collaborative
process aimed at developing a competitiveness strategy for Malta. The
book is founded on the belief that small states such as Malta need to
develop and sustain their economic competitiveness in order to achieve
their long-term development aspirations. It serves as a case study in
promoting constructive social dialogue on economic competitiveness, a
key issue for small states, and provides a framework for the development
of a national competitiveness strategy and a programme of follow-up
mechanisms, with implementation, monitoring and advocacy measures.
More information is available at:from the Islands and Small States
Institute, Foundation for International Studies, St. Paul Street,
Valletta, VLT07, Malta, Tel/Fax: +356-2124-8218, 2134-0335; email:
islands@um.edu.mt
GLOBAL FINANCIAL
STABILITY REPORT: MARKET DEVELOPMENTS AND ISSUES
(IMF,
April 2004) The Global Financial Stability Report from the
International Monetary Fund provides the latest assessment of global
financial markets and emerging market financing in a global context. The
report examines the current conditions in global financial markets,
focusing on issues of financial imbalances and structural concerns that
might threaten financial market stability and sustained market access by
emerging market borrowers. The latest edition of the Global Financial
Stability Report, which is now published quarterly, includes
chapters concentrating on developments in global financial markets, risk
transfer and the insurance industry, and institutional investors in
emerging markets. The report is available online at:
http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/gfsr/2004/01/index.htm
UK BILATERAL INVESTMENT TREATY PROGRAMME AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
(Royal Institute of International
Affairs, February 2004) This paper by Luke Eric Peterson provides an
analysis of bilateral trade treaties. In particular, Peterson assesses
concerns that treaty rules may be used to claim compensation for damages
resulting from government regulations on the environment, health or
other areas that impact foreign investors. Peterson's paper assesses
known disputes under the UK's Investment Promotion and Protection
Agreements. He draws attention to a variety of procedural and
substantive concerns that, he says, indicate that in the future,
investment treaty arbitration could open up certain unexpected
liabilities for host governments, both in the developing and developed
world. The report is available online at:
http://www.riia.org/pdf/research/sdp//BinvestFeb04.pdf
TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT IN THE WTO:
AFTER CANCUN
(RIIA, February 2004) This
briefing paper by Duncan Brack and Thomas Branczik for the Royal
Institute for International Affairs looks at the linkages between trade
and environmental issues. The authors consider how the ongoing growth in
global trade can conflict with and, on occasion, support environmental
regulation. The report also looks at some of the key areas where
trade-environment tensions exist, explains countries' positions on
trade-environment linkages, and assesses how these are influencing the
debate. The report is available online at:
http://www.riia.org/pdf/research/sdp//T&EFeb04.pdf
MANUAL FOR THE PREPARERS AND USERS OF
ECO-EFFICIENCY INDICATORS
(UNCTAD, 2004) The UN
Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has published new
guidelines on corporate environmental accounting. The guidelines, which
seek to help standardize information prepared by companies on their
environmental performance, cover issues such as water and energy use,
greenhouse gas emissions, and waste. The new guidelines have already
been used by Ciba Specialty Chemicals, the first multinational
corporation to base its reporting on UNCTAD's model. The guidelines and
further background information are available online at:
http://www.unctad.org/Templates/webflyer.asp?docid=4432&intItemID=1634&lang=1
CLIMATE AND TRADE RULES – HARMONY OR
CONFLICT?
(Swedish National Board of
Trade and SEPA, 2004) This report from Sweden's National Board of Trade
and Environmental Protection Agency looks at the relationship between
the rules set out under the World Trade Organization and those contained
in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol.
The report focuses on various trade-related measures under the climate
treaty, and how they relate to the WTO. The authors conclude that a
"friendly coexistence" is possible between the two sets of rules,
although technical regulations and rules relating to production
standards may need to be addressed. The report also recommends action
"at the national, institutional and international level to promote
mutual supportiveness." The report is the first in a series being
prepared over the next year that will consider the relationship between
the WTO and various multilateral environmental agreements. It is
available online at:
http://www.kommers.se/binaries/attachments/2501_Climate_and_Trade_Rules.pdf
INTERNATIONAL TRADE STATISTICS 2003
(World Trade Organization,
2004) This WTO report provides a detailed account of trade in both
merchandise and commercial services by country, region and main product
groups or service categories. Produced by the WTO's Economic Research
and Statistics Division, the report shows that a "weak trade recovery"
in 2002 was followed by a near stagnation of trade flows in the first
half of 2003. This far from robust trade picture reflects above all the
weak economic growth in the OECD countries and in particular Western
Europe. The report is available online at:
http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/statis_e/its2003_e/its03_toc_e.htm
WBCSD PRESS ROOM
The World Business Council
for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) has recently created a press room,
where journalists can find press releases, project briefs, bios and
photos, FAQs, a speech library, logos and background information on the
organization. The press room is located at:
http://www.wbcsd.org/web/press.htm
If you
would like to submit details of
recently published documents and online resources,
send a message to
Diego Noguera, IISD
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