Recent Published Articles
Archived Published Articles
10-2-2024
Waging a Global Trade War Alone: The Cost of Blanket Tariffs on Friend and Foe
Edward J. Balistreri, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Christine McDaniel, Yeutter Institute
We use an advanced model of the global economy to consider a set of scenarios consistent with the proposal to impose a minimum 60% tariff against Chinese imports and blanket minimum 10% tariff against all other US imports. The basis for the tariff rates is a proposal from former President Donald Trump (see Wolff 2024). We consider these scenarios with and without symmetric retaliation by our trade partners.
2-3-2024
Predicting Sedentarism and Its Impact on Caloric Requirements
Jacob Michels, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; John C. Beghin, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
A recent study conducted by PhD candidate Jacob Michels and Agricultural economist John Beghin delves into the question of whether global estimates of food insecure populations need a reevaluation of their methodology to account for increasing sedentarism. This reevaluation is prompted by the increasing prevalence of sedentary lifestyles worldwide, which calls for a redefinition of caloric thresholds indicating the onset of food insecurity. In this short article, we provide a nontechnical summary of their investigation recently published in Michels and Beghin (2024).
6-2-2023
Economic Impacts of Investment Facilitation
Edward J. Balistreri, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Zoryana Olekseyuk, German Institute of Development and Sustainability
After the successful adoption of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) in 2014, investment facilitation is gaining importance as the next policy priority for a plurilateral agreement under the World Trade Organization (WTO). In fact, more than 110 WTO Members aim to conclude the negotiations on the Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) Agreement by mid-2023 after only three years of formal negotiations. Investment facilitation refers to actions taken by governments designed to attract foreign investment and maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of its administration through all stages of the investment cycle. The IFD agreement focuses on allowing investment to flow efficiently for the greatest benefit, particularly to developing and least developed member countries, with the aim of fostering sustainable development. The flow of efficiency is improved through transparency, predictability, and efficient frameworks with streamlined procedures. In addition, the agreement aims at improving intra-governmental coordination and international cooperation on investment matters. To provide policymakers with essential information for ongoing negotiations and to fill an existing research gap on investment facilitation, we examine the economic impacts of a potential IFD agreement. Generally, quantifying such impacts is predicated on an assessment of current frictions that limit investment on an international basis and the mechanism by which policy impacts these frictions.