The evolution of services trade policy since the great recession

Policy measures are quantified into a Services Trade Restrictions Index (STRI) following a novel, consistent and transparent framework. Building on these innovations, the paper identifies patterns of services trade policies across sectors and economies, as well as secular trends over the past decade. Higher income economies are still more open on average than developing economies, but the chronology of reform differs markedly across sectors. In telecommunications and finance, we see convergence towards greater openness driven by liberalization in the previously more restrictive developing economies. In the hitherto universally protected transport and professional services, we see policy divergence as some higher income economies pioneer reform. But while explicit restrictions are being lowered in most services sectors – in contrast to recent developments in goods trade policy – we also see greater recourse to regulatory scrutiny, especially in higher income economies. These measures could reflect legitimate prudential or security concerns, but they could also reflect recourse to less transparent forms of protection.

No: ERSD-2020-02

Authors: Ingo Borchert, Joscelyn Magdeleine, Juan A. Marchetti, Aaditya Mattoo

Manuscript date: February 2020 (revised on 29 May 2020)

Key Words:

services trade policy, investment, STRI, trade restrictions, quantification

JEL classification numbers:

F13, F14, F23, L80, O24

back to top

Disclaimer 

This is a working paper, and hence it represents research in progress. The opinions expressed in this paper are those of its author. They are not intended to represent the positions or opinions of the WTO or its members and are without prejudice to members' rights and obligations under the WTO. Any errors are attributable to the author.

Download paper in pdf format (40 pages, 960KB; opens in a new window)