Modernisation of the EU-Chile trade agreement - sustainability impact assessment

The final study assessing the impact of the modernisation of the EU-Chile trade agreement has now been published, along with the position paper prepared by the European Commission. The study analyses which economic, social, environmental, and human rights impact the agreement's modernisation could have, depending on the outcomes of the ongoing negotiations.

For more information, including executive summaries and other reports, visit the study website.

Guidance Note on Data Analysis for Gender and Trade Assessments

The first step in gender-aware economic analysis involves building the statistical picture of an economy as a gendered structure. Such a picture, if appropriately disaggregated in terms of production sectors, workers’ and households’ characteristics can provide a useful baseline from which to track the direct and indirect effects of trade changes by gender. By highlighting existing inequalities, it can help assess whether proposed trade reforms and agreements are likely to redress or intensify bottlenecks to women’s access to economic resources and opportunities. It can also guide the selection of relevant indicators for ex-post monitoring.

This guide offers an introduction to gender-aware data analysis for assessing distributional effects of international trade at the country level. It describes conceptual frameworks and data sources and shows how to use statistical data to understand the linkages between changes in trade policies and various dimensions of gender inequality. The guide is designed primarily for data analysts and policy advisers. It could also be of help to women’s organizations and other civil society stakeholders involved in trade consultations.

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Assessment of European Fund for Sustainable Development (EFSD) and EFSD Guarantee Fund - Final Report

We have recently completed the Independent assessment of the European Fund for Sustainable Development (EFSD) and the EFSD Guarantee Fund. The final report produced by out team has now been published by the European Commission and can downloaded directly from the Commission website. The Commission has also prepared a press release related to the study with links to their own report, based on the study, to the European Parliament and the Council.

 

Research note: Covid-19 support to businesses risks leaving behind companies in developing countries

Most governments in the world have announced, and are implementing, programmes to respond both to the health and economic consequences of Covid-19. However, the magnitude of responses to Covid-19 (including health responses and economic stimulus packages) by governments has varied considerably, from nothing to about half of GDP.[1]

A simple linear regression between the level of support and some possible explanatory factors – the forecast level of impact of Covid-19 on the economy, GDP per capita, and the level of government debt before the crisis – shows that not the severity of the anticipated economic impact Covid-19 but GDP per capita is the most important of these three factors (for more details see below).

New study launched to prepare for the EU Generalised Scheme of Preferences after 2023

Since 1971, the EU GSP scheme offers easier access to the EU market for goods exported from developing countries by eliminating or reducing import tariffs unilaterally. The current legal basis for the GSP, Council Regulation (EU) No 978/2012, will expire at the end of 2023. If no new GSP Regulation is enacted, only imports from least developed countries (LDCs) would continue to benefit from preferntial access under the "Everything But Arms" (EBA) arrangement.