• Login
    View Item 
    •   Athenaeum Home
    • University of Georgia Theses and Dissertations
    • University of Georgia Theses and Dissertations
    • View Item
    •   Athenaeum Home
    • University of Georgia Theses and Dissertations
    • University of Georgia Theses and Dissertations
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    The evolution of regional integration arrangements in the developing world

    Thumbnail
    Date
    2011-08
    Author
    Chacha, Mwita
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    This project is interested in explaining the puzzle of why some regional integration arrangements (RIAs) in the developing world have attained deeper levels of economic integration while others have not. By first noting that prevalent theories of integration do not adequately explain the evolution of regional integration in the developing world, I propose a theoretical model that argues that membership size and overlapping memberships have affected the deepening of economic cooperation in RIAs in the developing world. Membership size heightens preference heterogeneity, increases the cost of using side-payments, and exacerbates collective action problems that in turn limit the chances of deepening economic integration. Overlapping memberships splits states' loyalties, complicates the implementation of RIA rules and obligations, and reduces the benefits of regional integration that then also reduce the probability of deepening economic integration. These two hypotheses are tested quantitatively and qualitatively. 22 RIAs drawn from the developing world are evaluated. I develop original measures of depth of economic integration, the dependent variable, and overlapping memberships for the quantitative test. The findings from the quantitative evaluation lend support to the two hypotheses; although there is stronger support for the detrimental effect that overlapping membership has had on the depth of economic integration among these RIAs. Qualitatively, evidence shows the complications that membership size and overlapping memberships have had for several of these 22 RIAs and how these complications have contributed to shallow economic integration for some of these RIAs. The findings of this project point to the need to rationalize memberships in RIAs regardless of whether the goal is deeper economic integration. Additionally, these findings also show the need to strengthen institutions of RIAs that are tasked with managing integration. If states are to derive benefits from regional integration, institutional mechanisms that address collective action problems need to be empowered to better monitor and enforce RIA rules and obligations.
    URI
    http://purl.galileo.usg.edu/uga_etd/chacha_mwita_201108_phd
    http://hdl.handle.net/10724/27415
    Collections
    • University of Georgia Theses and Dissertations

    About Athenaeum | Contact Us | Send Feedback
     

     

    Browse

    All of AthenaeumCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjects

    My Account

    LoginRegister

    About Athenaeum | Contact Us | Send Feedback