World Trade Evolution: Growth, Productivity and Employment

This book offers a comprehensive review of the evolution of world trade patterns and their impact on global productivity and employment. It tracks the shift from traditional trade in finished goods to the modern era of global value chains and intermediate goods trade. The contributors analyze how changes in trade policy and technological advancements have influenced the distribution of gains from trade across different regions and sectors. The text also addresses the rising concerns regarding trade-related job losses and income inequality, suggesting that trade policy must be coupled with effective domestic labor market reforms. It provides a historical and analytical perspective on how international trade continues to be a primary driver of global economic transformation.