MERCOSUR in trade policy clusters: challenges and prospects

Vol. 42 No. 3 (2022)

Jul-Sep / 2022
Published August 17, 2022
PDF-English
PDF-English

How to Cite

Koval, Alexandra Gennadyevna, and Ekaterina Konstantinovna Andrianova. 2022. “MERCOSUR in Trade Policy Clusters: Challenges and Prospects”. Brazilian Journal of Political Economy 42 (3):718-37. https://doi.org/10.1590/0101-31572022-3288.

MERCOSUR in trade policy clusters: challenges and prospects

Alexandra Gennadyevna Koval
PhD in Economics, Associate Professor, Department of World Economy, Saint Petersburg State University.
Ekaterina Konstantinovna Andrianova
Master in Economics, Department of World Economy, Saint Petersburg State University. Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation.
Brazilian Journal of Political Economy, Vol. 42 No. 3 (2022), Jul-Sep / 2022, Pages 718-737

Abstract

The sharp increase in the number of FTAs puts customs unions in an ambiguous
situation questioning their effectiveness. In this view, MERCOSUR could attract special
attention as it seems to support the intention to revive integration within the block after a
long period of stagnation. This paper identifies asymmetries and similarities in the member
states’ trade policy and presents a new perspective on the regional integration by means
of cluster analysis. The results of the study provide the answer to the question of whether
MERCOSUR countries have common trade patterns and can act as a single block in the
international trade.

JEL Classification: F13; F15.


Keywords: Mercosur regional integration trade policy non-tariff measures cluster analysis