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The Political Economy of Preferential Trade Agreements: An Empirical Investigation
[Distributive politics and economic growth]

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  • Giovanni Facchini
  • Peri Silva
  • Gerald Willmann

Abstract

We develop a political economy model to study the decision of representative democracies to join a preferential trading agreement, distinguishing between free trade areas and customs unions. Our theoretical analysis shows that bilateral trade imbalances and income inequality are important factors determining the formation of preferential trading agreements, whereas the patterns of geographic specialisation explain whether a customs union or a free trade area will emerge. Our empirical analysis—using a comprehensive panel dataset spanning 187 countries over the period 1960–2015—provides strong support for these predictions.

Suggested Citation

  • Giovanni Facchini & Peri Silva & Gerald Willmann, 2021. "The Political Economy of Preferential Trade Agreements: An Empirical Investigation [Distributive politics and economic growth]," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 131(640), pages 3207-3240.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:econjl:v:131:y:2021:i:640:p:3207-3240.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Jaume Sempere, 2022. "On potential Pareto gains from free trade areas formation," Journal of Public Economic Theory, Association for Public Economic Theory, vol. 24(6), pages 1502-1518, December.
    3. Gordeev, Stepan & Steinbach, Sandro, 2024. "Determinants of PTA design: Insights from machine learning," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    4. Ornelas, Emanuel & Tovar, Patricia, 2022. "Intra-bloc tariffs and preferential margins in trade agreements," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    5. Atika Benaddi & Peri Silva, 2022. "The multilateral trade policy of the Arab league countries: An empirical investigation," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(11), pages 3420-3450, November.
    6. Shuichiro Nishioka & Eric Olson, 2023. "The political effects of trade with Japan in the 1980s," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 61(2), pages 451-471, April.
    7. James Lake, 2019. "Dynamic formation of preferential trade agreements: The role of flexibility," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 52(1), pages 132-177, February.
    8. Eric Conglin Chi & Halis Murat Yildiz, 2024. "Dynamic preferential trade agreement formation and the role of political economy," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 62(2), pages 748-781, April.
    9. Mohammad Reza Farzanegan & Mohammad Ali Kadivar, 2023. "The effect of Islamic revolution and war on income inequality in Iran," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 65(2), pages 1007-1026, August.
    10. Kiran Ayub & Peri Silva, 2024. "Product differentiation, interdependence, and the formation of PTAs," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 160(3), pages 905-952, August.
    11. Shuichiro Nishioka & Eric Olson, 2022. "The Political Effects of Trade with Japan in the 1980s," Working Papers 22-04, Department of Economics, West Virginia University.
    12. Dominik Naeher & Philippe Lombaerde & Takfarinas Saber, 2025. "Evaluating accession decisions in customs unions: a dynamic machine learning approach," International Economics and Economic Policy, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 1-27, February.

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    JEL classification:

    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations

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