Swiss News

This paper investigates the impact of aid for trade (AfT) targeted at trade policies on the participation of recipient countries in global value chains (GVCs), and how this impact varies with their prevailing political regimes. In democratic countries, the need for the authorities to account for the interests of various stakeholders (e.g., lobbies, trade unions) can compromise the allocation, use, and effectiveness of AfT. In contrast, less democratic regimes are typically more insulated from political pressures, which may lead to more effective outcomes of aid. At the same time, integration into some complex GVCs requires efficient and democratic institutions, to which these products are sensitive. Employing a sample of 110 countries and data covering 2002-2018, we control for standard determinants of GVC participation, while examining the effect of AfT and the moderating role of the political regime in place. Our estimation addresses the endogeneity of aid through an appropriate instrumentation strategy. Our results suggest that the effect of AfT is mostly positive in autocratic regimes, indicating more effective trade policy reforms. When we account for regional disparities, we find evidence that AfT for trade policy is also impactful in some democratic regimes. This might suggest that the efficacy of AfT is not strictly regime-dependent, but hinges on the government’s commitment to carry out significant reforms leading to greater participation in the global economy.

This paper investigates the impact of aid for trade (AfT) targeted at trade policies on the participation of recipient countries in global value chains (GVCs), and how this impact varies with their prevailing political regimes. In democratic countries, the need for the authorities to account for the interests of various stakeholders (e.g., lobbies, trade unions) can compromise the allocation, use, and effectiveness of AfT. In contrast, less democratic regimes are typically more insulated from political pressures, which may lead to more effective outcomes of aid. At the same time, integration into some complex GVCs requires efficient and democratic institutions, to which these products are sensitive. Employing a sample of 110 countries and data covering 2002-2018, we control for standard determinants of GVC participation, while examining the effect of AfT and the moderating role of the political regime in place. Our estimation addresses the endogeneity of aid through an appropriate instrumentation strategy. Our results suggest that the effect of AfT is mostly positive in autocratic regimes, indicating more effective trade policy reforms. When we account for regional disparities, we find evidence that AfT for trade policy is also impactful in some democratic regimes. This might suggest that the efficacy of AfT is not strictly regime-dependent, but hinges on the government’s commitment to carry out significant reforms leading to greater participation in the global economy.

This paper investigates the impact of aid for trade (AfT) targeted at trade policies on the participation of recipient countries in global value chains (GVCs), and how this impact varies with their prevailing political regimes. In democratic countries, the need for the authorities to account for the interests of various stakeholders (e.g., lobbies, trade unions) can compromise the allocation, use, and effectiveness of AfT. In contrast, less democratic regimes are typically more insulated from political pressures, which may lead to more effective outcomes of aid. At the same time, integration into some complex GVCs requires efficient and democratic institutions, to which these products are sensitive. Employing a sample of 110 countries and data covering 2002-2018, we control for standard determinants of GVC participation, while examining the effect of AfT and the moderating role of the political regime in place. Our estimation addresses the endogeneity of aid through an appropriate instrumentation strategy. Our results suggest that the effect of AfT is mostly positive in autocratic regimes, indicating more effective trade policy reforms. When we account for regional disparities, we find evidence that AfT for trade policy is also impactful in some democratic regimes. This might suggest that the efficacy of AfT is not strictly regime-dependent, but hinges on the government’s commitment to carry out significant reforms leading to greater participation in the global economy.

Samedi 30 mai 2026 à partir de 14h15, au Centre culturel irlandais de Paris
(5, rue des Irlandais 75005 Paris)

- Agenda / Région parisienne

Chaque printemps, Les Journées Molière offrent des espaces privilégiés de rencontres avec des auteurs francophones contemporains, des traducteurs, des éditeurs et bien sûr… les lecteurs.
Cette année, la 18ème édition sera placée sous le signe des biographies des grandes figures du XXème siècle. À cette occasion, nous évoquerons Jacques Derrida, Sándor, Ferenczi, ou encore Hergé, nous parlerons des aventures de Tintin, tout cela grâce à la participation du prolifique Benoît Peeters, (…)

- Agenda / Serbie, Dans les Balkans

Vendredi 22 mai - 18h
Rencontre en partenariat avec l'Académie d'Alsace des sciences, lettres et arts.
L'écrivain Velibor Čolić, né en Bosnie en 1964, s'est réfugié en France en 1992, au début de la guerre en ex-Yougoslavie. Il a résidé plusieurs années à Strasbourg et vit aujourd'hui à Bruxelles. Ecrits et publiés en exil, ses premiers ouvrages (nouvelles et romans) ont été traduits du bosniaque vers le français, puis il s'est mis à écrire en français, devenant en quelque sorte son (…)

- Agenda / Bosnie-Herzégovine, France - Régions

Vendredi 22 mai - 18h
Rencontre en partenariat avec l'Académie d'Alsace des sciences, lettres et arts.
L'écrivain Velibor Čolić, né en Bosnie en 1964, s'est réfugié en France en 1992, au début de la guerre en ex-Yougoslavie. Il a résidé plusieurs années à Strasbourg et vit aujourd'hui à Bruxelles. Ecrits et publiés en exil, ses premiers ouvrages (nouvelles et romans) ont été traduits du bosniaque vers le français, puis il s'est mis à écrire en français, devenant en quelque sorte son (…)

- Agenda / Bosnie-Herzégovine, France - Régions

Dañs-tro, Paotred an Dreujenn Gaol (Clarinette Populaire), La Grande Boutique et Drom Kreiz Breizh Akademi organisent un événement artistique en hommage à Erik Marchand les 15 et 16 mai à Poullaouen et le 17 mai à St Michel en Glomel.
Erik Marchand a marqué la musique bretonne depuis plus de 50 ans. Habitant de Poullaouen, il a imaginé de multiples créations musicales avec des artistes finistériens, bretons, européens… Les associations partenaires de cet événement souhaitent ainsi célébrer (…)

- Agenda / France - Régions, Agenda - Diaporama

- Agenda / Région parisienne

Le titre de l'exposition fait référence aux multiples hybridités qu'elle explore : celle qui unit les deux artistes, celle des formes et des matériaux employés, celle des références puisées dans l'histoire de l'art, la géopolitique ou la science-fiction, et enfin celle du caractère double des œuvres, qui, malgré leur matérialité affirmée, ouvrent une fenêtre sur l'âme humaine et ses aspirations. Adriana Popović (1970, Paris) possède une double formation artistique et scientifique : formée (…)

- Agenda / Serbie, Région parisienne

Le titre de l'exposition fait référence aux multiples hybridités qu'elle explore : celle qui unit les deux artistes, celle des formes et des matériaux employés, celle des références puisées dans l'histoire de l'art, la géopolitique ou la science-fiction, et enfin celle du caractère double des œuvres, qui, malgré leur matérialité affirmée, ouvrent une fenêtre sur l'âme humaine et ses aspirations. Adriana Popović (1970, Paris) possède une double formation artistique et scientifique : formée (…)

- Agenda / Serbie, Région parisienne

Ahead of Europe Day 2026, President of the European Council António Costa signed an opinion piece reflecting on our common European project and the importance of multilateralism.

On 9 May, Europeans will celebrate Europe Day. This year marks the 76th  anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, which laid the foundations for the European Union as we know it today, and led to an unprecedented era of peace, democracy, prosperity, integration and cooperation across the continent.

Simplification: Council agrees position to streamline EU rules on artificial intelligence.

Ahead of Europe Day 2026, President of the European Council António Costa signed an opinion piece reflecting on our common European project and the importance of multilateralism.

On 9 May, Europeans will celebrate Europe Day. This year marks the 76th  anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, which laid the foundations for the European Union as we know it today, and led to an unprecedented era of peace, democracy, prosperity, integration and cooperation across the continent.

Vereinfachung: Rat legt Standpunkt zur Straffung der EU-Vorschriften für künstliche Intelligenz fest.

Ahead of Europe Day 2026, President of the European Council António Costa signed an opinion piece reflecting on our common European project and the importance of multilateralism.

On 9 May, Europeans will celebrate Europe Day. This year marks the 76th  anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, which laid the foundations for the European Union as we know it today, and led to an unprecedented era of peace, democracy, prosperity, integration and cooperation across the continent.

Egyszerűsítés: a Tanács kialakította álláspontját a mesterséges intelligenciára vonatkozó szabályok észszerűsítéséről.