Swiss News

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.

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.

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.

Jeudi 30 juillet 2026, à 20h30
Église de Doucy-en-Bauges
On ne présente plus Tedi Papavrami, violoniste virtuose arrivé très jeune d'Albanie en France. Sa curiosité, son exigence intellectuelle et artistique font de lui un violoniste hors normes dans le paysage musical. Le duo qu'il forme avec la pianiste japonaise Maki Okada fait merveille.
Le programme explore les rives de la Méditerranée, dont les mythes, mélodies, danses et lumières ont inspiré de multiples chefs-d'œuvre. Ce concert (…)

- Agenda / Albanie, France - Régions

Jeudi 30 juillet 2026, à 20h30
Église de Doucy-en-Bauges
On ne présente plus Tedi Papavrami, violoniste virtuose arrivé très jeune d'Albanie en France. Sa curiosité, son exigence intellectuelle et artistique font de lui un violoniste hors normes dans le paysage musical. Le duo qu'il forme avec la pianiste japonaise Maki Okada fait merveille.
Le programme explore les rives de la Méditerranée, dont les mythes, mélodies, danses et lumières ont inspiré de multiples chefs-d'œuvre. Ce concert (…)

- Agenda / Albanie, France - Régions

Dans le cadre du Festival des Cultures du Monde, la troupe folklorique de Korça proposera plusieurs spectacles de danses et de musiques traditionnelles albanaises. Ce festival, organisé chaque année à Chambéry, réunit des groupes venus du monde entier et met à l'honneur la diversité des cultures. La participation albanaise permettra au public de découvrir des danses, des costumes et des rythmes caractéristiques du patrimoine du pays. Les spectacles, gratuits et en plein air, s'adressent à (…)

- Agenda / Albanie, France - Régions

Dans le cadre du Festival des Cultures du Monde, la troupe folklorique de Korça proposera plusieurs spectacles de danses et de musiques traditionnelles albanaises. Ce festival, organisé chaque année à Chambéry, réunit des groupes venus du monde entier et met à l'honneur la diversité des cultures. La participation albanaise permettra au public de découvrir des danses, des costumes et des rythmes caractéristiques du patrimoine du pays. Les spectacles, gratuits et en plein air, s'adressent à (…)

- Agenda / Albanie, France - Régions

Die Übernahme des Grasshopper Klub Zürich durch die Bridge Football Group bringt eine erste personelle Veränderung mit sich. Sportchef Alain Sutter soll laut Blick-Informationen seinen Posten räumen müssen.

Es war der grosse Schreckmoment für Kanada beim 6:0-Sieg gegen Katar: Ismaël Koné erleidet nach einem Foul einen Bruch im Schienbein. Nach dem historischen Sieg gegen Südafrika traut mancher seinen Augen nicht. Koné tanzt ohne Krücken in der Kabine.

Eine Dashcam filmt, wie ein Mann eine Frau mitten auf einer Autobahn in Chicago aus dem Auto wirft. Die Frau bleibt regungslos liegen, der Mann fährt davon. Die Hintergründe sind unklar.

Zum chinesischen Geely-Konzern gehören Volvo, Polestar, Zeekr, Lotus und zu 50 Prozent Smart. Jetzt startet auch die Muttermarke selbst in der Schweiz – mit dem elektrischen Geely E5. Blick hat den grossen Rivalen von VW ID.4 oder Skoda Enyaq bereits exklusiv getestet.

Donald Trumps Familie profitiert erneut: Ein Minen-Deal in Kasachstan spült Millionen in die Taschen seiner Söhne und des Handelsministers Howard Lutnick.

Das Aus im WM-Sechzehntelfinal schockt Deutschland. Die Presse haut auf das Team von Julian Nagelsmann drauf – und sieht den Bundestrainer als gescheitert. Auch international ist man überrascht.

The Council of the European Union and the European Parliament have reached a provisional agreement on bolstering the management and funding of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).

The Council has approved the resolution on the second cycle of the strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training towards the European Education Area (2026-2030), which sets out the work programme for cooperation at EU level in the areas of education and training over the next five years.

Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2026/1363 of 15 June 2026 amending Decision (CFSP) 2024/1484 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Russia.

Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2026/1351 of 15 June 2026 amending Decision (CFSP) 2014/2643 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s destabilising activities.

The Council has approved conclusions calling on member states to take into account the interplay between housing needs and demographic trends when developing housing policies.

President of the European Council, António Costa, will travel to Dublin (1 July) for the opening ceremony of the Irish presidency of the Council of the EU, and to Aix-en-Provence (2-3 July) to participate in the “Rencontres Économiques”. On 4 July, President Costa will visit Marseille, Avignon and the ITER Headquarters in Saint Paul-lez-Durance.

Council gives its final approval to the package to reform the research fund for coal and steel