Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.

• Pakistan : Reinvigorating the Trade Agenda

  Reis, José Guilherme; Taglioni, Daria (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2014-04-16)

  This paper reviews Pakistan's
 recent trade performance, its trade policy and trade costs.
 Different dimensions of trade performance growth and
 orientation, diversification and sophistication are
 assessed, complemented by an in-depth analysis of export
 dynamics in the period 2001-10 using firm-level data. An
 econometric exercise is also performed to identify the
 impact of tariffs, exchange rates, fixed costs to export,
 foreign demand, and preferential trade policy on the ability
 of firms to increase their exports. The analysis of
 Pakistan's trade policy includes tariffs, effective
 protection and trade restrictiveness estimates, as well as
 an assessment of the role of preferential trade agreements
 in the context of regional integration. Finally, the main
 characteristics of trade facilitation and logistics are
 analyzed, covering the capacity, performance, quality of
 services and degree of integration of the logistics system.
• What Does MFN Trade Mean for India and Pakistan? Can MFN be a Panacea?

  Raihan, Selim; De, Prabir; Ghani, Ejaz (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2013-09-26)

  India and Pakistan, the two largest
 economies in South Asia, share a common border, culture and
 history. Despite the benefits of proximity, the two
 neighbors have barely traded with each other. In 2011, trade
 with Pakistan accounted for less than half a percent of
 India's total trade, whereas Pakistan's trade with
 India was 5.4 percent of its total trade. However, the
 recent thaw in India-Pakistan trade relations could signal a
 change. Pakistan has agreed to grant most favored nation
 status to India. India has already granted most favored
 nation status to Pakistan. What will be the gains from trade
 for the two countries? Will they be inclusive? Is most
 favored nation status a panacea? Should the granting of most
 favored nation status be accompanied by improvements in
 trade facilitation, infrastructure, connectivity, and
 logistics to reap the true benefits of trade and to promote
 shared prosperity? This paper attempts to answer these
 questions. It examines alternative scenarios on the gains
 from trade and it finds that what makes most favored nation
 status work is the trade facilitation that surrounds it. The
 results of the general equilibrium simulation indicate
 Pakistan's most favored nation status to India would
 generate larger benefits if it were supported by improved
 connectivity and trade facilitation measures. In other
 words, gains from trade would be small in the absence of
 improved connectivity and trade facilitation. The idea of
 trade facilitation is simple: implement measures to reduce
 the cost of trading across borders by improving
 infrastructure, institutions, services, policies,
 procedures, and market-oriented regulatory systems. The
 returns can be huge, even with modest resources and limited
 capacity. The dividends of trade facilitation can be shared
 by all.
• Doing Business 2014 Economy Profile : Pakistan

  International Finance Corporation; World Bank (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2013-10-29)

  This economy profile presents the Doing
 Business indicators for Pakistan. In a series of annual
 reports, Doing Business assesses regulations affecting
 domestic firms in 189 economies and ranks the economies in
 10 areas of business regulation, such as starting a
 business, resolving insolvency and trading across borders.
 This year's report data cover regulations measured from
 June 2012 through May 2013. The report is the 11th edition
 of the Doing Business series.