Policymakers & Trade Legislation.Robert Lawrence

Surveys: An Opportunity to explore Good Theory: Occams Razor: Requires

Tractability.

Good Empirical Work: Requires good theory and structure.

Good Survey’s: Opportunities to explore

What is Trade Policy Conventional framing: Tariff changes. Narrow Economic Interests.

Trade policy today: Agreements: Multi-Issue. Rules

Demand & Supply of Trade Policy Demand Supply

constituent

preferences

Interest groups/parties

Policymaker

preferences

Institutions

Economic Environment

Constituent Preferences Economic Interests:

Consumption benefits. Factor ownership.

Other Values: (Equity, Identity, Community) Knowledge Formation. Risk Aversion

Interest-Groups/Parties Organizing to influence:

Costs of Collective Action. Benefits. Instruments:

Money. Persuasion. Information/Media Organization. Alliances

Policy-Makers Preferences:

Personal Interests. Institutional/Organizational Constituent Interests. General Interests.

Perceptions. Symbolism.

Institutions Trade-Making Authority. USA vs EU Source of Power. Elections: Districts, Party Discipline,

Frequency.

Perceptions, International trade: gets credit and blame.

Trade votes: not only about trade: e.g NAFTA, China PNTR.

Level Playing Field

Policies, Costs of Policies Change: --e.g. environmental rules. Other regulations.

Process: Only Game in Town?

Changing constraints on domestic policies. Changing policy agendas. Winners& losers in

process Changing responsibilities for trade and domestic

policies. legislative committees, regulators. Changing relationships to international institutions. Interest groups respond. Legislators respond.

Implications. Ask about effects on interests but also perceptions

and process.

Role of money versus knowledge.

Ask how decisions are made as well as why.

Explore relationships between positions and preferences.