RESOURCES
THE COFFEE PARADOX: GLOBAL MARKETS, COMMODITY TRADE AND THE ELUSIVE PROMISE OF DEVELOPMENT. By Benoit Daviron and Stefano Ponte. Zed Books, November 2005. This book poses the question: can developing countries trade their way out of poverty? International trade has grown dramatically in the last two decades in the global economy, and trade is an important source of revenue in developing countries. Yet, the authors argue, while many low-income countries have been producing and exporting tropical commodities for a long time, they are still poor. This book shows that the coffee paradox — the coexistence of a ‘coffee boom’ in consuming countries and of a ‘coffee crisis’ in producing countries — exists because what farmers sell and what consumers buy are becoming increasingly ‘different’ coffees. It is not material quality that contemporary coffee consumers pay for, it is mostly symbolic quality and in-person services. The authors argue that as long as coffee farmers and their organizations do not control at least parts of this ‘immaterial’ production, they will keep receiving low prices. The book offers in-depth analysis of commodity production and trade in order to create a better sense of understanding of the subject. It also puts forward policy-relevant suggestions for ’solving’ the commodity problem.
THE INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT SYSTEM: LIMITATIONS, EXCEPTIONS AND PUBLIC INTEREST CONSIDERATIONS FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES IN THE DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT. By Ruth Okediji. International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD), 2005. This paper discusses the limitations and exceptions that exist within the international copyright system as they relate to developing countries’ access to creative works. A key theme of the paper is the central role that copyright plays in building capacity for economic growth and development. It notes that the role of copyright in disseminating information and promoting welfare can only be effectively realised when copyright law reflects a balance between the competing interests of protection and access. The author argues that effective diffusion of knowledge goods is directly related to the limitations placed on the proprietary rights of owners of such goods. Specifically with regard to education and basic scientific knowledge, she contends that limitations and exceptions within copyright law are an important component in creating an environment in which domestic economic initiatives and development policies can take root, since a well-informed, educated and skilled citizenry is indispensable to the development process. Available online at http://www.iprsonline.org/unctadictsd/docs/Okediji_Copyright_2005.pdf.
REGIONAL TRADE ARRANGEMENTS IN AFRICA. By Yongzheng Yang and Sanjeev Gupta. International Monetary Fund, 2005. In recent years, African policymakers have increasingly resorted to regional trade arrangements (RTAs) as a substitute for broad-based trade liberalisation. This trend has long-term implications for the effectiveness of trade policy as a tool for poverty reduction and growth. The paper examines the record of RTAs in promoting trade and investment. It also explores policy measures that may help improve the RTAs’ performance. The paper concludes that African RTAs have been generally ineffective in promoting trade and foreign direct investment. Relatively high external trade barriers and low resource complementarity between member countries limit both intra- and extra-regional trade. Small market size, poor transport facilities, and high trading costs make it difficult for African countries to reap the potential benefits of RTAs. The paper offers suggestions for overcoming obstacles that are impeding the effectiveness of RTAs in Africa. Further information is available on the IMF website, http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/cat/longres.cfm?sk=18099.0.
REPORT ON THE ONLINE FORUM ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY IN THE INFORMATION SOCIETY June 1 to 15, 2005. World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), September 2005. From 1-15 June 2005, WIPO conducted an online forum on intellectual property in the information society as part of its contribution to the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). The forum received some 52,000 visits and 374 comments from a wide variety of participants in different countries. The discussions were focused on ten themes relating to intellectual property and how it affects, and is affected by, the information society. This report contains the background commentaries on each of the ten themes, together with a brief synopsis of the comments received, as well as background resources. Available online at http://www.wipo.int/ipisforum/en/pdf/wipo_crrs_inf_1.pdf.