• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.53-80
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• 2021

The main objective of this study is to determine whether there have been TFP increases in the Korean manufacturing sector due to trade liberalization since the 1990s. Based on the methodology proposed by Pavcnik (2002), which focuses on the channel through which trade liberalization measures enhance overall industrial productivity by triggering the exit of low-productivity firms, this study tests the following two hypotheses: first, the TFP increase in the Korean tradable industry is not higher than that in the non-tradable industry, and second, plants with lower TFP levels did not exit from the tradable industry. Through the rejection of these two hypotheses, it is possible to infer indirectly the effect of trade liberalization on firm productivity rates in Korea since the 1990s. First, this analysis reveals that since the 1990s, the TFP of the tradable sector compared to the non-tradable sector presented a statistically meaningful increase only in the 2000s, when China joined the WTO and trade increased sharply between Korea and China. Secondly, TFP growth in the tradable sector was positively affected by exits, as it was plants with lower TFP levels that ceased to exist.

• Economic Analysis
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.30-51
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• 2011

Since the previous studies on the effects of trade liberalization implicitly assume that trade liberalization affects economic performance only in any point in time, they inevitably are static. Static evaluations fail to account for cumulative dynamic effects of trade liberalization that affect continuously economic performance. This paper tries to fill this gap of the previous studies in this field, estimating cumulative effects of trade liberalization on economic performance by employing an dynamic version of empirical model. One of important empirical issue is controlling bias from endogeneity. To resolve this problem, this paper employes system GMM that uses lagged first-differences as instruments for level equations and lagged levels as instruments for first-differences equations. It improves upon cross-section estimators because it controls for the potential bias induced by the omission of industry-specific effects and the endogeneity of all regressors. This study investigates the effects of trade liberalization in Korean manufacturing for the period from 1988 to 2005 and finds that cumulative dynamic effects of trade liberalization are present and bigger than static effects.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.71-89
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• 2020

This study was carried out to identify the impact of EU GDPR on international trade amid the ongoing digital trade liberalization. To do this, we first looked at the current trend of digital trade liberalization, the role of data in it, and the trade-restrictive elements of EU GDPR. This allowed us to identify the negative impact of GDPR on free trade. It then conducted an interview survey on Korean companies operating in the EU to verify the conclusions reached. The result of this survey showed that the level of GDPR risk perceived by Korean firms was very low compared with those of American, Japanese and Chinese firms. In particular, the impact of GDPR is not clear for Korea's SMEs. It can be assumed that the reason for this is that Korean SMEs are not using data as a major business tool while the capability of SMEs is sufficient to cope with GDPR. In this regard, the government's appropriate policies and further research for SMEs are needed.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.33-56
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• 2022

Purpose - This paper explains how free trade agreements (FTAs) work as a building block to achieve global free trade and be better than other trade regimes. Design/methodology - This paper utilizes a trade liberalization game setup. Three countries choose a trade agreement strategy based on a given trade regime. Trade agreement is made only when all member countries agree. The paper evaluates each trade regime concerning FTAs and customs union (CU) by area size of global free trade equilibrium on the technology or demand gap between countries. Findings - FTAs make global free trade easier. In this game, there are two main reasons for failure to reach global free trade. First, a trade regime with FTAs makes non-member face difficulties in refusing trade agreements in the existence of a technology gap than a trade regime without FTAs. Also, a trade regime with FTAs causes it harder to exclude non-members in the existence of a demand gap than a trade regime with only CUs. Therefore, a trade regime with FTAs can work better in reaching global free trade. Originality/value - The concept of "implicit coordination" was used, which assumes that FTA members keep external tariffs for non-members the same as before an FTA. Without this consideration, FTA members lower their tariffs to non-members, and it makes non-member refuse free trade easier. FTA can prevent it sufficiently only with implicit coordination. This makes the trade regime with FTAs more effective to reach global free trade.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.37-51
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• 2004

The liberalization of imports under the system of World Trade Organization (WTO) will provide a serious impact on Korean dairy industry when foreign competitive dairy products are introduced from any countries in the world. With the importation of dairy products, Korean dairy industry may bring about the limitation of raw milk production, decline of the working ration in facilities and loss of diversification of dairy products. Therefore, Korean dairy industry should prepare high quality dairy products to secure international competitions against the opening of importation. In conclusion, development of high quality and functional dairy products that are satisfied to consumers are the most important subjects to overcome the adverse circumstance as WTO. This report reviews the direction of the diversification of dairy products in the Era of trade liberalization.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.131-153
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• 2018

This paper evaluates Korea's achievements in implementing the WTO Information Technology Agreement (ITA1), which has been referred to as one of the most successful stories in trade liberalization. ITA1 and other agreements for trade liberalization were evaluated based on quantative statistics, and the implication that is not shown as numbers has often been ignored. Based on in-depth interview methods, results of this paper provides academic importance in filling the gap in knowledge regarding the success of trade liberalization from a qualitative perspective. As well, it has practical importance in exploring implications for continuing the success in implementing the ITA2 and further implementing other agreements for trade liberalization.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.1-29
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• 2013

This paper examines the effect of trade liberalization or globalization, more broadly, on plants' growth as well as on "bi-polarization". To do so, we reviewed the possible theoretical mechanisms put forward by recent heterogeneous firm trade theories, and provided available micro-evidence from existing empirical studies on Korean manufacturing sector. Above all, the empirical evidence provided in this paper strongly suggests that globalization promoted growth of Korean manufacturing plants. Specifically, evidence suggests that exporting not only increases within-plant productivity but also promotes introduction of new products and dropping of old products. However, the empirical evidence also suggest that globalization has some downsides: widening productivity differences across plants and rising wage inequality between skilled and unskilled workers. Specifically, trade liberalization widens the initial productivity differences among plants through learning from export market participation as well as through interactions between exporting and R&D, both of which increase plants' productivity. We also show that there is only a small group of large and productive "superstar" plants engaged in both R&D and exporting activity, which can fully utilize the potential benefits from globalization. Finally, we also show evidence that trade liberalization interacts with innovation to increase the skilled-unskilled wage inequality.

• International Area Studies Review
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.383-401
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• 2011

This paper studied about environmental protection and Free Trade in FTA. FTA is representative means that maximize trade profit through free trade. But Regulation for environmental protection is infringing profit of free trade(FTA). It is the natural matter that the all countries must do environmental protection. but, measure for environmental protection must not be used on trade limited constituent. This study studied about enactment plan of environmental regulation to achieve two targets of environmental protection with trade liberalization. Study Finding is as following. First, it is that to apply existent environmental standard in the FTA expands trade liberalization. Second, need enactment of rule that can interchange Environmental Goods or a technology effectively. Third, there is necessity to establish procedural regulations and substantial regulations that refer environment problems. also to include comprehensive form in case of choose Multilateral Environmental Agreements is reasonable.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.7 no.8
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• pp.213-224
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• 2020

The study assesses the impact of trade liberalization factors on changes in customs revenues in Vietnam. Research data was conducted between 2002 and 2017 on the official website of the Government's Web Portal and The World Bank. This paper uses the vector error correction model to estimate the short-term and long term relationship between data series. The results have proven that tariff reductions have a positive effect on short-term and long-term customs revenues in Vietnam. However, the implementation of other international commitments on trade liberalization has positive short-term and long-term negative impacts on customs revenues in Vietnam. The study's results also show that exchange rate has no effect on changes in customs revenues in the short term but it has a strong impact on increasing customs revenues in the long run. Based on these findings, the article also suggests a number of policies to ensure customs revenues in Vietnam in future. In order to ensure customs revenues, the government of Vietnam should: (1) having some policy to improve the efficiency of customs management in Vietnam; (2) Building appropriate VND exchange rate policy; (3) Establishing reasonable non - tariff barriers to prevent fraud and ovations cause losses in customs revenues.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.7 no.10
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• pp.555-569
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• 2020

This study examines the impact of corporate tax, a fiscal measure along with trade liberalization and research and development on total factor productivity for a panel of 153 industrial firms listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange over the period 1997-2017. For empirical analysis, we employ the system generalized method of moment estimator. In the first step, we estimate industrial production function and the results reveal that raw material, industrial labour force and energy play vital role in enhancing industrial production. Whereas, industrial capital exerts negative impact on industrial output. We also measured total factor productivity using the production elasticities. In the second step, we examine the impact of corporate tax, trade liberalization and research and development on total factor productivity. The results indicate that higher level of corporate tax exerts negative impact on total factor productivity. The findings reveal that higher corporate taxation discourages industrial firms to undertake research and development thereby exerting adverse impact on total factor productivity of firms. The impact of trade liberalization proxied by average tariff is positive while customs duty and sales tax negatively impact firm-level total factor productivity. These findings provide useful insights for managers, investors and policy makers in Pakistan.