The next big European project? The migration and asylum crisis: a vital challenge for the EU
The summer of 2015 may well be remembered as a turning point in the history of both migration to Europe and European integration. There was a further rise in mixed inflows of migrants and refugees, with a diversification of the routes employed – in particular, a surge in transits across the Eastern Mediterranean and the Western Balkans. Secondly,the already dynamic map of political reactions and policy responses entered a phase of hectic and deep change, due primarily to a major shift in the position of Germany.
Economic outlooks for Africa
African Economic Outlook 2015: What are Africa´s economic outlooks?
Darwinistisk seleksjon i en global økonomi
(This article is available in Norwegian only): Det siste tiåret har det blitt utviklet en ny retning innen samfunnsøkonomisk teori om internasjonal handel, såkalt ny-ny handelsteori. Teorien er inspirert av empiriske studier av handelsdata på bedriftsnivå og kan forklare en rekke særtrekk vi observerer ved eksportører, som for eksempel at de har langt større omsetning og er mer produktive enn ikke-eksportører. Teorien kan videre forklare hvordan slike forskjeller på mikronivå får konsekvenser for makroøkonomiske størrelser. Økt globalisering gjennom reduksjon i handelskostnader kan føre til økt gjennomsnittlig produktivitet innad i næringer gjennom darwinistisk seleksjon av bedrifter – små og lite produktive bedrifter blir erstattet av større og mer produktive. Artikkelen gir en oversikt over de grunnleggende mekanismene i den nye teorien samt noen sentrale utvidelser.
East Asia – Inside and Out
Professor Christopher Dent explores how we can understand East Asia as a region, recent key developments in East Asia’s regional affairs, and how East Asia is shaping the world in which we live.
Transactions and Interactions: Everyday Life in the Peacekeeping Economy
China’s Currency Devaluation: A Butterfly Effect?
The devaluation created many ripple effects in other markets, especially in Asia but also in the US and Europe, writes Dr. Marc Lanteigne.
To look or not to look to Norway? Brexit and the tales of Norwegian outsidership
Trade barriers or trade facilitators? On the heterogeneous impact of food standards in international trade
Recent research shows that food standards can be heterogeneous across sectors or countries: they sometimes act as barriers to trade, but in other cases may lead to increased trade. We present empirical evidence from Norwegian seafood export data showing that food standards, measured by SPS and TBT notifications, generally have a negative impact on total exports, the number of exporters and their average exports. However, for fresh seafood, the impact of SPSs is positive. We present a theoretical explanation for this, suggesting that food standards reduce consumer uncertainty about quality and safety and therefore increase demand