CEPA Research Projects

CEPA Research Projects

Globalization and Social Policy in Developing Economies
A Project Funded by the United Nations Division for Social Policy and Development and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

CEPA's project on Globalization and Social Policy studies the impacts of changes in the international economic system on economic and social performance in developing economies. "Globalization" is interpreted as a complex process involving liberalization of international flows of finance and trade, along with country-specific changes in public policies and behavioral patterns of private economic actors. The project is centered around case studies of developing economies, informed by a common macroeconomic framework and research methodology and undertaken by national researchers with worldwide reputations.

Drafts were presented at a conference at CEPA in January 1999. The final versions were made available on CEPA's Web site in February 2000, along with an overview paper. Following up on the 1995 United Nations World Summit for Social Development, the papers are expected to be presented to a Special Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations in the year 2000.

Participants of the January 1999 Conference at CEPA
(larger photo with identification)

The developing countries chosen for study, titles, and authors are as follows:

Overview paper: "External Liberalization, Economic Performance, and Social Policy." Janine Berg and Lance Taylor (Center for Economic Policy Analysis). Download (194KB).

Argentina: "Balance-of-Payments Liberalization: Effects on Growth, Employment and Income in Argentina." Roberto Frenkel and Martín González Rozada (Centro de Estudios de Estado y Sociedad). Download (322KB).

Colombia: "Structural Adjustment, Macroeconomics and Equity in Colombia." José Antonio Ocampo and Camilo Tovar (UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean). Download (227KB).

Cuba: "External Opening, Labor Market and Inequality of Labor Incomes." Angela Ferriol (Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Economicas). Download (159KB).

India: "Globalization and its Social Discontents: The Case of India." Amitava K. Dutt (Economics Department, University of Notre Dame), J. Mohan Rao (Economics Department, University of Massachusetts at Amherst). Download (156KB).

Mexico: "Trade and Financial Liberalization with Volatile Capital Inflows: Macroeconomic Consequences and Social Impacts in Mexico during the 1990s." Jaime Ros (The Helen Kellogg Institute for International Studies, University of Notre Dame) and Nora Claudia Lustig (Inter-American Development Bank). Download (1,013KB).

Russia: "Russia: Globalization, Structural Shifts and Inequality." Alexander Vorobyov and Stanislav Zhukov (Institute of World Economy and International Relations). Download (195KB).

South Korea: "Economic and Social Consequences of Globalization: The Case of South Korea." Jong-Il You and Ju-Ho Lee (Korea Development Institute, School of International Policy & Management). Download (255KB).

Turkey: "Globalization, Distribution and Social Policy: Turkey, 1980-1998." Korkut Boratav (Ankara University), A. Erinc Yeldan (Bilkent University), and Ahmet H. Kose (Ankara University). Download (884KB).

Zimbabwe: "Zimbabwe: Economic Adjustment, Income Distribution and Trade Liberalization." Rob Davies (Economics Department, University of Zimbabwe) and Jørn Rattsø (Economics Department, Norwegian University of Science and Technology). Download (80KB).

The following poem was written by Rob Davies at the end of the conference at CEPA in January 1999.

Globalization & Social Policy
by Rob Davies

As we approached the new millennium,
people want us to defend them
from all harm as they are forced to globalize.
But it's plain for all to see
that economists can't agree
on what policies we should help our states devise.

Washington thinks it's wise,
when you're under global eyes,
to focus on your macro'nomic stance.
If you cannot work that out,
then they think there is no doubt.
Reducing poverty will never stand a chance.

But the poor will not try it,
and they often tend to riot,
as they question just how good this broad advise is.
They seem to show surprise
that we trust these global lies,
when for them it just seem to lead to crisis.

So CEPA and the UN
have said, "let's try again
about creating a humane global rule."
And, given where we've met,
it's an even money bet,
if we succeed we'll be called "The New School."