Trade has not always been such a controversial topic, and it worked well for the US and many other countries for most of the post-war era. However, in the last few decades, trade has become a key pivot point in politics and elections in the US. This is partly because of the transformation of the […]
An ambitious global agenda on climate change and sustainable development has emerged from the landmark international agreements of 2015. Together, the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Paris Agreement and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda aim to deliver strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth, reduce global poverty and secure a better and more sustainable […]
Intellectual property rights (IPR) provisions have become a staple of modern free trade agreements since the 1995 Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), which set minimum standards for IPR protection for World Trade Organization (WTO) members. TRIPS requires members to provide an intellectual property legal structure encompassing patents, trademarks, copyrights, other provisions […]
It is no surprise that calls to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) resonated with so many Americans. Numerous studies have documented the negative effects of NAFTA on certain groups, regions and the environment in the US, Mexico and Canada. However, the resulting United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) will not restore innovation, industrial jobs, […]
For a long time, the world followed a version of multilateralism that permitted nations to regulate international markets and pursue strategies for equitable development. While this system aimed for a more value-driven and rules-based global economy in the aftermath of the Great Depression as well as the defeat of Fascism, the structure began to fall […]
The Amazon stores 120 billion tons of carbon, supports rainfall systems that are critical for regional economies and provides habitat for one-third of the world’s species. Investments to secure the Amazon’s natural capital are an essential step to supporting sustainable infrastructure. Under traditional approaches to infrastructure development, the Amazon’s natural capital is at risk. In […]
As the world’s leading carbon emitter since 2005 and a prominent financier for coal-fired power globally, China plays a pivotal role in the global effort to address climate change. While China has begun a shift away from coal-fired power at home, it has emerged as the largest financier of overseas coal-fired power abroad. Why has […]
Energy is the lifeblood of the global economy, critical to all sectors of the economy including agriculture, transportation, waste collection, information technology and communications sources. In 2011, energy expenditures amounted to approximately 10 percent of the world gross domestic product (GDP), in which North America accounts for 20 percent, Europe for 25 percent and Japan […]
The multilateral system is in crisis. After years of accentuating financial instability, inequality, and climate change, the system is now under attack on all fronts and may be pushed to the limit by the actions of the United States. In late 2018 and early 2019, the Boston University Global Development Policy Center partnered with the […]
Leading up to and in the wake of the Global Financial Crisis, there has been a significant amount of literature demonstrating how regulating cross-border financial flows helps prevent and mitigate financial crises. However, an increasing number of trade and investment treaties makes it difficult to regulate the inflow or outflow of capital to prevent and […]