We investigate the effects of 12 major Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) on intraand extra-regional trade flows in member developing countries, both intra-RTA trade and the effect of RTAs on non-member trade over 1981~2008. We address and resolve statistical problems caused by logarithms, zero observations, and heteroskedasticity. Our regression results are not favorable to regional integration as a substitute for multilateral trade liberalization, although there are exceptions. Several RTAs fail to generate intrabloc trade creation. Seven of the 12 RTAs generate import trade diversion while most of the extra-bloc export dummies are not statistically significant. However, three of the five African RTAs in the sample increased intra-bloc trade. The differences in RTA performances are related to their implementation policies. JEL Classifications: F15, O19, O57

This paper analyzes the effects of ASEAN Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs) and employs the gravity model over 2007-2011. The regressions include all 6 ASEAN PTAs in a single regression which is run separately. Our pool regression results show that ASEAN members trade with each other at a level higher than without preferential trade agreements. RCEP displays intra-bloc trade creation so as to ACFTA, AJCEP, and AIFTA. There have been stumbling-blocs in AANZFTA. Our results show that export trade diversion in AKFTA and most of the import extra-bloc trade dummies are not statistically significant. PTAs with higher external tariffs is likely to be associated with trade diversion. Also, the finding confirms that the results for the pooled regression and the results for individual regressions are different. Simultaneous estimation for all PTAs in a single regression enables us to avoid bias in the results by accounting for interactions among PTAs.

We use new data on transportation to determine its effect on the international trade of eastern and southern Africa (ESA). The effects were estimated with gravity models using alternative techniques to check for robustness. Freight forwarders provided information on freight charges (price), average duration of shipment (time) and variability in time. The new transportation variables and the more commonly used distance variable appear to have smaller effects overall than some previous research indicated, although our distance coefficient is identical to that of Coulibaly and Fotagné for West Africa. In contrast to other research critical of distance as a proxy for transport impediments, we find similar effects from distance and our measure of transport time, but both of these variables have significantly larger coefficients than price and variability. Landlocked ESA countries are twice as dependent on trade as the whole region after accounting for control variables, but they are not significantly more affected by changes in price and time, and they are less affected by distance and variability. The relative size of the time coefficients suggests that measures to lessen delays in shipping, for instance, faster border clearance, might encourage more trade than cost cutting measures that lowered price proportionately.

This paper has three objectives, first to collects development of Thailand halal regulation. Second this paper seeks to examine Thailand's restaurants driving force toward halal certification. And finally, we analyze Thai Buddhists perspective toward Halal principle. The next section provides the preliminary results. The finding is to Thailand does not have the requirement of restaurants. Restaurants which want to apply for halal certification have to follow the implementation of entrepreneur. Most of the small restaurants are treated as small entrepreneurs and the fees are 10,000 baht. The rate is quite expensive for ordinary small restaurants. Thai halal regulation is designed to serve firm producing products. In case of without the approval or misuse a halal certificate in relation to any product or restaurants, there is no fine. On average, we found that Muslim restaurants in Thailand do not willing to apply for halal certificates since they do not see any benefit. Also Application process is costly, time consuming and imposes a burden to the business. • Non-Muslim consumers do not understand halal principle. The main reasons are a lack of knowledge and insufficient information on the benefits of the halal process.