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Aid for trade, political ties, and global value chains: a regime-dependent effect?

This paper investigates the impact of aid for trade (AfT) targeted at trade policies on the participation of recipient countries in global value chains (GVCs), and how this impact varies with their prevailing political regimes. In democratic countries, the need for the authorities to account for the interests of various stakeholders (e.g., lobbies, trade unions) can compromise the allocation, use, and effectiveness of AfT. In contrast, less democratic regimes are typically more insulated from political pressures, which may lead to more effective outcomes of aid. At the same time, integration into some complex GVCs requires efficient and democratic institutions, to which these products are sensitive. Employing a sample of 110 countries and data covering 2002-2018, we control for standard determinants of GVC participation, while examining the effect of AfT and the moderating role of the political regime in place. Our estimation addresses the endogeneity of aid through an appropriate instrumentation strategy. Our results suggest that the effect of AfT is mostly positive in autocratic regimes, indicating more effective trade policy reforms. When we account for regional disparities, we find evidence that AfT for trade policy is also impactful in some democratic regimes. This might suggest that the efficacy of AfT is not strictly regime-dependent, but hinges on the government’s commitment to carry out significant reforms leading to greater participation in the global economy.

Aid for trade, political ties, and global value chains: a regime-dependent effect?

This paper investigates the impact of aid for trade (AfT) targeted at trade policies on the participation of recipient countries in global value chains (GVCs), and how this impact varies with their prevailing political regimes. In democratic countries, the need for the authorities to account for the interests of various stakeholders (e.g., lobbies, trade unions) can compromise the allocation, use, and effectiveness of AfT. In contrast, less democratic regimes are typically more insulated from political pressures, which may lead to more effective outcomes of aid. At the same time, integration into some complex GVCs requires efficient and democratic institutions, to which these products are sensitive. Employing a sample of 110 countries and data covering 2002-2018, we control for standard determinants of GVC participation, while examining the effect of AfT and the moderating role of the political regime in place. Our estimation addresses the endogeneity of aid through an appropriate instrumentation strategy. Our results suggest that the effect of AfT is mostly positive in autocratic regimes, indicating more effective trade policy reforms. When we account for regional disparities, we find evidence that AfT for trade policy is also impactful in some democratic regimes. This might suggest that the efficacy of AfT is not strictly regime-dependent, but hinges on the government’s commitment to carry out significant reforms leading to greater participation in the global economy.

Aid for trade, political ties, and global value chains: a regime-dependent effect?

This paper investigates the impact of aid for trade (AfT) targeted at trade policies on the participation of recipient countries in global value chains (GVCs), and how this impact varies with their prevailing political regimes. In democratic countries, the need for the authorities to account for the interests of various stakeholders (e.g., lobbies, trade unions) can compromise the allocation, use, and effectiveness of AfT. In contrast, less democratic regimes are typically more insulated from political pressures, which may lead to more effective outcomes of aid. At the same time, integration into some complex GVCs requires efficient and democratic institutions, to which these products are sensitive. Employing a sample of 110 countries and data covering 2002-2018, we control for standard determinants of GVC participation, while examining the effect of AfT and the moderating role of the political regime in place. Our estimation addresses the endogeneity of aid through an appropriate instrumentation strategy. Our results suggest that the effect of AfT is mostly positive in autocratic regimes, indicating more effective trade policy reforms. When we account for regional disparities, we find evidence that AfT for trade policy is also impactful in some democratic regimes. This might suggest that the efficacy of AfT is not strictly regime-dependent, but hinges on the government’s commitment to carry out significant reforms leading to greater participation in the global economy.

From anticolonial heroes to post-independence liabilities: morphing refugee categorizations in African geopolitics

Many colonies in Africa attained independence through negotiated settlements. However, several others engaged in armed liberation struggles, for example, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), and the Portuguese colonies of Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, and São Tomé and Príncipe. Newly independent states provided liberation movements with bases on their territories and political, military, intellectual, ideological, material, and moral support. In West Africa, Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, a notable pan-Africanist, declared in his Independence Day speech in 1957, “Our independence is meaningless unless it is linked up with the total liberation of the African continent.” In East Africa, Julius Nyerere and Jomo Kenyatta, the first presidents of independent Tanzania and Kenya respectively, showed similar commitment to Pan-Africanism and anticolonialism by hosting refugees fleeing armed struggles in Southern Africa. Tanzania hosted the Organization of African Unity Liberation Committee supported anticolonial resistance and liberation movements. President Nyerere supported them for “challenging injustices of empire and apartheid” and declared, “I train freedom fighters”. He encouraged Tanzanians living around liberation movement camps to welcome these movements and their freedom fighters and also protect them from agents of colonial governments. Support also came from many other countries on the continent including Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Algeria. The latter provided sanctuary to representatives of liberation movements such as Nelson Mandela of the African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa.

From anticolonial heroes to post-independence liabilities: morphing refugee categorizations in African geopolitics

Many colonies in Africa attained independence through negotiated settlements. However, several others engaged in armed liberation struggles, for example, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), and the Portuguese colonies of Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, and São Tomé and Príncipe. Newly independent states provided liberation movements with bases on their territories and political, military, intellectual, ideological, material, and moral support. In West Africa, Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, a notable pan-Africanist, declared in his Independence Day speech in 1957, “Our independence is meaningless unless it is linked up with the total liberation of the African continent.” In East Africa, Julius Nyerere and Jomo Kenyatta, the first presidents of independent Tanzania and Kenya respectively, showed similar commitment to Pan-Africanism and anticolonialism by hosting refugees fleeing armed struggles in Southern Africa. Tanzania hosted the Organization of African Unity Liberation Committee supported anticolonial resistance and liberation movements. President Nyerere supported them for “challenging injustices of empire and apartheid” and declared, “I train freedom fighters”. He encouraged Tanzanians living around liberation movement camps to welcome these movements and their freedom fighters and also protect them from agents of colonial governments. Support also came from many other countries on the continent including Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Algeria. The latter provided sanctuary to representatives of liberation movements such as Nelson Mandela of the African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa.

From anticolonial heroes to post-independence liabilities: morphing refugee categorizations in African geopolitics

Many colonies in Africa attained independence through negotiated settlements. However, several others engaged in armed liberation struggles, for example, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), and the Portuguese colonies of Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, and São Tomé and Príncipe. Newly independent states provided liberation movements with bases on their territories and political, military, intellectual, ideological, material, and moral support. In West Africa, Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, a notable pan-Africanist, declared in his Independence Day speech in 1957, “Our independence is meaningless unless it is linked up with the total liberation of the African continent.” In East Africa, Julius Nyerere and Jomo Kenyatta, the first presidents of independent Tanzania and Kenya respectively, showed similar commitment to Pan-Africanism and anticolonialism by hosting refugees fleeing armed struggles in Southern Africa. Tanzania hosted the Organization of African Unity Liberation Committee supported anticolonial resistance and liberation movements. President Nyerere supported them for “challenging injustices of empire and apartheid” and declared, “I train freedom fighters”. He encouraged Tanzanians living around liberation movement camps to welcome these movements and their freedom fighters and also protect them from agents of colonial governments. Support also came from many other countries on the continent including Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Algeria. The latter provided sanctuary to representatives of liberation movements such as Nelson Mandela of the African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa.

Exposition : France, Suède et Empire ottoman : alliances artistiques

Courrier des Balkans - Sun, 11/01/2026 - 23:59

Au début du 18e siècle, la France, la Suède et l'Empire ottoman nouent un réseau d'alliances où la diplomatie ouvre la voie à l'imaginaire. À travers peintures, dessins, estampes et aquarelles, l'exposition explore ces circulations artistiques et culturelles.
Au 18ᵉ siècle, les relations entre Occident et Orient s'apaisent après de longs siècles marqués par les conflits armés. La France, la Suède et l'Empire ottoman s'allient contre les ennemis communs que sont la Russie et l'Autriche. Les (…)

- Agenda

Musique d'Asie Mineure et de la Mer Égée par Makis Baklatzis

Courrier des Balkans - Fri, 10/16/2026 - 23:59

Lors de cet atelier, nous étudierons des airs et des chants de la région élargie d'Asie Mineure et la manière dont le répertoire correspondant a été intégré et domestiqué, principalement dans les îles du nord-est de la mer Égée et des Cyclades.
À travers le répertoire et la pratique, nous étudierons les points communs et les différences stylistiques de ces régions spécifiques. Parallèlement, l'analyse des chants et des airs nous permettra d'identifier les caractéristiques (développement (…)

- Agenda / ,

Exposition : Monuments intimes/ Nadia Rozeva

Courrier des Balkans - Fri, 08/28/2026 - 23:59

Artiste bulgare et figure reconnue dans le domaine de la médaille d'art contemporain, Nadia Rozeva offre un aperçu de sa sensibilité unique à travers 50 œuvres créées entre 2002 et 2026.
Intime par nature et conçue pour être touchée, la médaille est une forme sculpturale de petite dimension, à la fois puissante et singulière. C'est un récit tactile, où la perception de son poids physique offre un ancrage sensoriel aux thèmes explorés et rend l'abstrait tangible.
Par le langage laconique (…)

- Agenda / ,

ZDF-«Sommerinterview» vor Wahlen in Deutschland: Weidel bekennt sich zu Euro- und Schengen-Austritt

Blick.ch - 15 hours 5 min ago
Bahnt sich in Deutschland das grosse politische Beben an? Kurz vor den Schicksalswahlen liegt die AfD vorne. Parteichefin Alice Weidel (47) nutzt das ZDF-«Sommerinterview» für eine Kampfansage: Deutschland soll raus aus dem Euro und aus Schengen.

Erstes Tor für YB: Sène packt gegen Vaduz den Fallrückzieher aus

Blick.ch - 15 hours 44 min ago
In Zusammenarbeit mit blue Sport präsentiert Blick die Highlights der Partie YB – Vaduz (4:2).

Neue Ausstellung von Thomas Hirschhorn in Chur: «Ich will niemanden provozieren, sondern meine Arbeit machen»

Blick.ch - 16 hours 22 min ago
Der international erfolgreiche Thomas Hirschhorn kehrt zu seinen geografischen Wurzeln zurück. Im Bündner Kunstmuseum Chur kam er vor 50 Jahren erstmals überhaupt mit Kunst in Berührung. Nun präsentiert das Haus bis zum 6. Dezember seinen neusten Werkkomplex «My Atlas».

«Eine Mega-Erfahrung für mich»: In Zürich kommts zum Leichtathletik-Hammer um Kälin

Blick.ch - 16 hours 22 min ago
Die EM in Birmingham endete für Siebenkämpferin Annik Kälin als Vierte in einer Enttäuschung. Mit ihrem sensationellen Hürdenauftritt sorgte sie aber für Furore – und jetzt darf sie sich in Zürich tatsächlich mit den Stars messen.

Sarah Calenda (29) parkierte in Würenlos AG etwa drei Minuten bei einer Bäckerei: «Die beiden Gipfeli kosteten mich am Ende 463 Franken!»

Blick.ch - 16 hours 23 min ago
Kurz parkiert, hohe Strafe: Sarah Calenda (29) aus Würenlos AG zahlt 460 Franken für nur drei Minuten auf dem falschen Parkplatz – ein richterliches Verbot macht die sonntägliche Gipfeli-Besorgung zum teuren Ausflug. Sie hat mit Blick über den Parkplatz-Ärger geredet.

Für Zürcher Luxus-Überbauung mussten Familien und Rentner raus – jetzt bleiben viele Wohnungen leer: «Es ist einfach deprimierend»

Blick.ch - 16 hours 23 min ago
In kaum einem anderen Zürcher Stadtquartier wurden in den letzten Jahren mehr Leerkündigungen ausgesprochen als in Witikon. Teure Neubauten haben hunderte Einheimische verdrängt. Nun stehen die Luxuswohnungen leer.
Categories: Africa, Swiss News

Blick hat alle Kantone ausgewertet: Immer weniger Pauschalbesteuerte – aber trotzdem mehr Steuereinnahmen

Blick.ch - 16 hours 25 min ago
Im Geschäft mit den Pauschalbesteuerten verzeichnen die Kantone hohe Einnahmen. Das ist erstaunlich. Denn die Zahl der Pauschalbesteuerten ist in den letzten Jahren massiv zurückgegangen. Unklar ist, ob sie weggezogen sind.
Categories: European Union, Swiss News

Springreiter musste viel durchmachen: Guerdat konnte kaum mehr laufen – jetzt ist er Weltmeister

Blick.ch - 16 hours 49 min ago
Die Ausnahme-Stute Dynamix de Bélhème trägt Steve Guerdat in Aachen zu WM-Gold! Damit hat der 44-Jährige als einziger Springreiter alle grossen Titel gewonnen. Dabei hing seine Karriere wegen Rückenproblemen in den letzten eineinhalb Jahren an einem seidenen Faden.
Categories: European Union, Swiss News

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