Taking the pulse of global trade policy
How much has trade policy changed globally? This column introduces the Trade Policy Activity Index, a monthly measure of policy changes across 197 economies since
Challenges to the integration of the Western Balkans into European Union supply chains
Western Balkan economic integration with the European Union has advanced significantly over the past two decades, driven by trade liberalisation and significant EU foreign direct
Two decades of Chinese industrial subsidies
China’s industrial policy has become a central flashpoint in global trade debates, yet systematic evidence on what China actually does remains scarce. This column reveals
The state of competition: Why market power has risen – and why antitrust alone won’t fix it
There is intense debate over the origins and implications of rising market power and declining business dynamism across developed economies. This column argues that a
No, the EU does not impose a 45% tariff on itself
A recent paper which has gathered significant attention estimates a 45% tariff equivalent of intra-EU border costs. This column argues that this estimate is likely
Tariffs, deals and multilateral ideals: can the World Trade Organization survive?
The Trump administration’s trade policy accelerates the WTO’s decline and challenges global trade governance. The second administration of United States President Donald Trump has shaken
Regulation and growth: Lessons from nearly 50 years of product market reforms
Product market regulation reforms directly affect firm entry, innovation and reallocation, and thus productivity and economic growth. This column leverages the 2025 update of the
The value added tax paradox in resource-dependent economies
The introduction of value added taxes has been widely perceived as successful, boosting government revenue and stimulating industrialisation. This contrasts with the empirical finding that,
New eBook: Trump’s Great Trade Hack
President Trump’s 2025 tariffs mark the onset of the post-American leadership era. This column introduces The Great Trade Hack, a new CEPR Rapid Response book
