Im Dschungel der Importz̦lle РDie Bedeutung der verwendeten Methodik bei der Aggregation von Importz̦llen

The results of liberalization studies can be influenced decisively by the methodology of import tariff aggregation. This article deals with different measures used to aggregate import tariffs. Therefore, the advantages and disadvantages of different aggregation measures are discussed theoretically. In the empirical part of the paper, the simple average and the trade-weighted average of bound and applied tariffs are calculated for different agricultural products of the EU. The analysis considers ad valorem and specific tariffs as well as tariff rate quotas. Additionally, for the applied tariffs, a distinction is made between MFN-tariffs and bilateral preferential tariff rates. Using the same data base, the product specific Trade Restrictiveness Index (TRI) and the Mercantilist Trade Restrictiveness Index (MTRI) are calculated. Because of the poor data availability at the detailed tariff-line level, a simple partial equilibrium application of these indices is implemented, which can be extended to the whole import tariff data base of an economic trade model. The results show a strong correlation between all aggregation methods, but the size of the import tariffs differs highly, depending on the aggregation measure used. Furthermore, high differences between bound and applied tariffs for some EU agricultural products are calculated.agriculture in international trade, tariff aggregation, bound tariffs, applied tariffs, Trade Restrictiveness Index (TRI), Mercantilist Trade Restrictiveness Index (MTRI), Agricultural and Food Policy, International Relations/Trade,

WTO-Verhandlungen: Warum die Einigung so schwierig und dennoch so wichtig ist

Agricultural and Food Policy, International Relations/Trade,

WOHLFAHRTSWIRKUNGEN EINER HANDELSLIBERALISIERUNG: WELCHEN EINFLUSS HAT DIE ZOLLAGGREGATION AUF DIE MODELLERGEBNISSE?

Die Ergebnisse von modellgestützten Liberalisierungsstudien können maßgeblich durch die Aggregation der Importzölle beeinflusst werden. Gegenstand dieses Beitrags ist die Quantifizierung des Einflusses unterschiedlicher Aggregationsmethoden auf die Wohlfahrtsergebnisse eines multiregionalen und multisektoralen allgemeinen Gleichgewichtsmodells. Ausgehend von derselben Datenbasis werden die Zölle mit dem einfachen und handelsgewichteten Durchschnitt, dem Trade Restrictiveness Index (TRI) und dem Merkantilistischen Trade Restrictiveness Index (MTRI) von der detaillierten Zolllinienebene auf ein modellkompatibles Niveau aggregiert. Unter Berücksichtigung von gebundenen und angewandten Zöllen wird ein multilaterales Liberalisierungsszenario entsprechend des G20- Vorschlags in den WTO-Verhandlungen gerechnet und die Ergebnisse verglichen.WTO, Agrarhandelspolitik, Zollaggregation, TRI, MTRI, International Relations/Trade,

Generic health literacy measurement instruments for children and adolescents:a systematic review of the literature

Background Health literacy is an important health promotion concern and recently children and adolescents have been the focus of increased academic attention. To assess the health literacy of this population, researchers have been focussing on developing instruments to measure their health literacy. Compared to the wider availability of instruments for adults, only a few tools are known for younger age groups. The objective of this study is to systematically review the field of generic child and adolescent health literacy measurement instruments that are currently available. Method A systematic literature search was undertaken in five databases (PubMed, CINAHL, PsycNET, ERIC, and FIS) on articles published between January 1990 and July 2015, addressing children and adolescents ?18 years old. Eligible articles were analysed, data was extracted, and synthesised according to review objectives. Results Fifteen generic health literacy measurement instruments for children and adolescents were identified. All, except two, are self-administered instruments. Seven are objective measures (performance-based tests), seven are subjective measures (self-reporting), and one uses a mixed-method measurement. Most instruments applied a broad and multidimensional understanding of health literacy. The instruments were developed in eight different countries, with most tools originating in the United States (n =?6). Among the instruments, 31 different components related to health literacy were identified. Accordingly, the studies exhibit a variety of implicit or explicit conceptual and operational definitions, and most instruments have been used in schools and other educational contexts. While the youngest age group studied was 7-year-old children within a parent-child study, there is only one instrument specifically designed for primary school children and none for early years. Conclusions Despite the reported paucity of health literacy research involving children and adolescents, an unexpected number of health literacy measurement studies in children?s populations was found. Most instruments tend to measure their own specific understanding of health literacy and not all provide sufficient conceptual information. To advance health literacy instruments, a much more standardised approach is necessary including improved reporting on the development and validation processes. Further research is required to improve health literacy instruments for children and adolescents and to provide knowledge to inform effective interventionspublishersversionPeer reviewe

Agricultural Market Access: Striking the Balance between Formulas and Water in the Tariffs. CPES ENARPRI Working Papers No. 18, 23 June 2006

In the current round of negotiations by members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), member countries committed themselves to substantially improving market access and reducing export subsidies and trade-distorting domestic support. The Doha Work Programme adopted by the WTO in 2004 defines the modalities for the negotiations, but there are still many open questions: What will be the magnitude of the tariff cuts? Which products will be defined as 'sensitive'? In addition, the difference between bound and applied tariff rates could be a criterion for defining sensitive products. Does the 'water in the tariffs' – which some define as any gap between the applied rate and the actual rate of protection, where the actual rate is lower – lead to an implicit preferential treatment for developing countries? How will sectors with different gaps between applied and bound rates be affected? This paper seeks to discuss and answer these questions. It analyses the effects of market access taking applied and bound rates into account. An extended version of the Global Trade Analysis Project model is used to first project a base run including the Agenda 2000, EU enlargement, the Everything but Arms agreement and the EU’s Mid-Term Review along with the WTO negotiations. Here, a differentiation is made between two experiments, both of which implement a more rigorous version of the Harbinson 1½ proposal. The difference between the experiments shows the effects of water in the tariffs, which are summarised in the conclusions

WTO Agricultural Negotiations: A Comparison of the Harbinson Proposal and the Swiss Formula. CEPS ENARPRI Working Papers No. 12, 1 February 2005

The WTO agricultural negotiations of the Doha round are a key issue in the public debate. This paper analyses the effects of different options to improve market-access on the basis of a GTAP model, comparing the impact of the Harbinson proposal and the Swiss formula on trade balances. An extended version of the GTAP model is used to first project a base run that includes factors arising from Agenda 2000, EU enlargement, the EBA agreement and the EU’s mid-term review. The policy simulation run additionally includes the WTO negotiations. Here, the model is differentiated between three experiments. While the first experiment simply implements the Harbinson proposal, the second one additionally takes into account an adoption of the EBA agreement by all industrialised countries. In the third experiment, the tariff cuts are based on the Swiss formula using a coefficient of 33 instead of the tiered approach of the Harbinson proposal. After comparing the results of the three experiments, the paper concludes that the results from the different options for improving market access show parallel developments, with more- or less-pronounced increases or decreases in trade balances. Implementation of the Harbinson approach results in negative changes in the EU’s trade balances for most agricultural products, except for the sugar, milk and other animal products sectors. The application of the Swiss formula to cut tariffs predictably results in severe losses to highly protected sectors worldwide in comparison to the Harbinson approach. In the EU, the highly protected sectors of beef and other processed food products would be particularly affected

Im Dschungel der Importzölle – Die Bedeutung der verwendeten Methodik bei der Aggregation von Importzöllen

The results of liberalization studies can be influenced decisively by the methodology of import tariff aggregation. This article deals with different measures used to aggregate import tariffs. Therefore, the advantages and disadvantages of different aggregation measures are discussed theoretically. In the empirical part of the paper, the simple average and the trade-weighted average of bound and applied tariffs are calculated for different agricultural products of the EU. The analysis considers ad valorem and specific tariffs as well as tariff rate quotas. Additionally, for the applied tariffs, a distinction is made between MFN-tariffs and bilateral preferential tariff rates. Using the same data base, the product specific Trade Restrictiveness Index (TRI) and the Mercantilist Trade Restrictiveness Index (MTRI) are calculated. Because of the poor data availability at the detailed tariff-line level, a simple partial equilibrium application of these indices is implemented, which can be extended to the whole import tariff data base of an economic trade model. The results show a strong correlation between all aggregation methods, but the size of the import tariffs differs highly, depending on the aggregation measure used. Furthermore, high differences between bound and applied tariffs for some EU agricultural products are calculated

Methods to Aggregate Import Tariffs and their Impacts on Modeling Results

When impacts of WTO market access proposals are analyzed with economic trade models, it is necessary to aggregate tariff data from the detailed tariff line level to the model level. In this article import tariffs and implemented import tariff cuts are aggregated from the 6- digit tariff line level with trade weighted average, the Trade Restrictiveness Index (TRI) and the Mercantilist Trade Restrictiveness Index (MTRI) by considering bound and applied tariff rates. The resulting tariffs are substituted for the originally applied import tariffs of the GTAP data base. Multilateral trade liberalization scenarios are then implemented and the welfare effects are compared