We provide a selective overview of the literature on the linkages between interstate conflict and international trade, paying special attention to how trade openness (i) affects arming incentives, (ii) the channels through which its effects travel, and (iii) its consequences for the emergence of...

In sheer quantity, the five original BRICS countries appear impressive. They account for a substantial share of the world's population, economy, trade and muster large militaries. In January 2024, BRICS gained even more steam, by admitting four new member states that participated in the most...

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) promises a new era of economic integration and industrial growth across the continent. But how can Africa truly harness this potential, especially in the vital textiles and apparel sector? This report explores the key challenges and opportunities...

How the use of industrial robots affects value capture in fragmented global production networks, represented by global value chains (GVCs), remains an open question. I focus on the automotive industry - the largest consumer of industrial robots and one of the most traded manufacturing industries...

In September 2013, the Chinese government approved establishing Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone (SPFTZ), the first Pilot Free Trade Zone (PFTZ) in the country. SPFTZ mainly implements policy and institutional innovation, aiming to extend reform and opening-up, generate the dividends of reform,...