Quantifying Economic Integration of the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union: Methodological Approaches

Despite current political headwinds, there is need for a timely expert assessment of the comprehensive economic integration between the European Union (EU) and the emerging Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). This report constitutes a preliminary methodological study. It starts off by offering a general understanding of the possible scope and limits of EU-EEU economic integration. It surveys the available literature on the various impacts that may arise if regional trade and investment agreements come into force. The report examines the use of computable general equilibrium models for assessment of the economic impact of integration agreements. It also analyses econometric methods used to study regional integration; and it discusses the applicability and constraints of other methods used to evaluate the effects of regional commercial agreements. The report presents a brief analysis of the methodology of assessing the impact of lifting non-tariff barriers.