Discussions on the development problems of commodity producing countries have been dominated by proposals for stabilizing world prices of commodities, in particular via the establishment of a “Common Fund” within the framework of UNCTAD’s Integrated Program for Commodities. Professor Ahmad...

This paper investigates the causes of the phenomenal growth of preferential trade areas (PTAs) in the world economy during recent decades. A political economy analysis suggests that the attraction of PTAs may be due, in large parts, to (a) a preference for manufacturing industry, rather than...