International trade and trade policy play a key role in contributing to improved livelihoods across the world. Yet it is well-established that trade generates winners and losers. Research has shown that despite the overall benefits from trade, trade can lead to increasing poverty or have negative impacts on sustainability. The challenging question is: what can be done about this?
The UK Government’s current International Development Strategy establishes investment and trade as its central focus, yet lacks detail on how this increased trade and investment will improve the lives of the poorest communities globally. Through our work on development and inclusive trade, we are calling for trade policy to made participatory and transparently as the strategy is implemented. This page contains a selection of our outputs on inclusive trade and development.
Through our research, teaching, and partnerships, IDS is working to better understand the different aspects of inclusive trade: transparency and participation in trade policymaking, poverty impacts, gender equality, and issues of human rights and sustainability; how to address asymmetries along power dimensions in trade and trade policy; and policy pathways towards achieving better inclusion for international trade. If you are interested in collaborating with us in future work on inclusive trade contact Amrita Saha via [email protected].
Research
- Inclusive Trade: Four Crucial Aspects – This Working Paper contributes to the conceptualisation of ‘inclusive trade’
- Making Trade Policy Inclusive: Position Paper
- More and Better Work for All
- Understanding why State-Business Relations Matter for Sustainable Development
- Governing Value Chains for Inclusive and Sustainable Development
- Transforming Food Markets for Social Good
- Designing for Impact: South-South Trade and Investment
Opinion – Voices on Inclusive Trade
- International trade for global sustainable development
- Can inclusive trade policy tackle multiple global challenges?
- Two developments for South-South trade and investments post Covid-19
- The future of UK-India trade and development – part one
- The future of UK-India trade and development – part two
- Trade, human rights and EU-India negotiations
- Can the RCEP strengthen global cooperation for trade, investment and sustainable development?
- Five principles for a progressive trade policy
- A new WTO chief creates opportunity to realise a globally inclusive trading system
- Amid shifting global trade dependencies, can the South provide greater certainty?
- Rethinking value chains globally in the light of Covid-19
Events
Our Inclusive Trade seminar series engages with academic debates, policy and practice on international trade and development outcomes, critically exploring different dimensions of inclusion for trade.
- Sustainable development impacts of trade and investment
- Untapping development potential of trade along global supply chains
- Designing digital trade provision in the AfCFTA: Lessons from existing trade agreements
- South-South and Triangular Trade and Investment for Development
Podcasts
- Trade Links: New rules for a new world
- Taxing Africa: Coercion, reform and development
- How lives change: Palanpur, India and development economics
Learn with us
- Making Trade Policy Inclusive (online short course)
- MA Globalisation, Business & Development
- More post-graduate degrees
Trade Experts
Karishma Banga – Karishma is an economist with a focus on international trade, digitalisation and development. Her ongoing research examines upgrading in Global Value Chains (GVCs), digitalisation and labour markets and digital trade negotiations, with a focus on development implications, particularly for African and Asian economies
If you have a media enquiry or would like an expert comment on trade, contact [email protected] or call +44 07933 389304.
Research projects, clusters and centres
- Business, Markets and the State – IDS research cluster
- Centre for Rising Powers and Global Development – IDS Research Centre
- Ecosystems For Futuristic Entrepreneurship through Collaboration and Technology (EFFECT) – ESRC funded research project
- Unlocking the Potential for Future India-UK Trade and Development – ESRC funded research project
- Linking Participation and Economic Advancement – Open Society Foundations supported project (finished December 2019)
