International Trade in Services

New Trends and Opportunities for Developing Countries (Trade and Development)

Michael Engman and Olivier Cattaneo

International Trade in Services: New Trends and Opportunities for Developing Countries (Trade and Development), edited by Michael Engman and Olivier Cattaneo, examines the growing importance of international trade in services and the opportunities it presents for developing countries.

The services sector plays a significant role in economic growth, competitiveness, and poverty alleviation. Accounting for more than two-thirds of the global economy, services are increasingly traded across international borders, supported by technological progress and the growing mobility of people.

The book explores how developing countries can use international trade in services to address domestic supply shortages, diversify their economies, and increase exports.

It highlights that while countries can benefit from the trade potential of services, not every country can become a services hub across multiple sectors. Opening the services sector can create significant opportunities, but it may also involve challenges, costs, and risks that require careful consideration.

The publication provides guidelines for assessing a country's trade potential and presents a roadmap for opening services markets and promoting exports in selected service sectors.

It examines the effects of increased imports and exports of services, offering examples of developing-country approaches that have succeeded or failed in maximizing benefits and minimizing the risks associated with market opening.

The book focuses on service sectors that have received limited attention in trade analysis or demonstrate rapidly growing trade potential for developing countries.

These sectors include accounting, construction, distribution, engineering, environmental services, health services, information technology, and legal services.

Key Features

• Examines new trends and opportunities in international trade in services.

• Highlights the importance of the services sector for economic growth, competitiveness, and poverty alleviation.

• Explores the role of technological progress and increased mobility in expanding cross-border trade in services.

• Discusses opportunities for developing countries to address domestic supply shortages and increase service exports.

• Provides guidelines for assessing a country's potential in international services trade.

• Presents a roadmap for services market opening and export promotion.

• Analyses the benefits, challenges, costs, and risks associated with opening services markets.

• Examines the effects of increased imports and exports of services.

• Includes examples of successful and unsuccessful approaches adopted by developing countries.

• Covers accounting, construction, distribution, engineering, environmental, health, information technology, and legal services.

• Focuses on service sectors with growing trade potential for developing countries.

Product Details

• Editors: Michael Engman and Olivier Cattaneo

• Publisher: World Bank Publications

• Publication Date: 30 June 2010

• Edition: Illustrated

• Language: English

• Format: Paperback

• Pages: 385

• ISBN-10: 0821383531

• ISBN-13: 9780821383537

• Reading Age: 5 years and up

• Item Weight: 499 g

• Dimensions: 14.61 × 1.91 × 22.23 cm