World Market and Globalisation

What is the influence of globalisation on the living conditions of the poor in less developed countries? How do different strategies of inte­gration into world markets affect poverty at its different levels? Can globalisation contribute to poverty reduction? One aim of this research is to shape a new view on the relationship between integration into world markets and poverty reduction. Nopoor sheds light on policies aiming to compensate eventual negati­ve effects of globalisation on the poor. 

 International Migration

International and internal migration affects poverty by influencing flows of income through remittances, investments (including public goods), knowledge and technologies, and social values. Nopoor research aims to:

• Analyse international migration as a basic characteristic of globalisation
• Understand the dynamic effects of migration and remittances on rural poverty and inequality
• Analyse to what extent migration supports local development 

Picture : A public school in Mexico training students to join the growing aircraft industry

The influence of globalisation on poverty and living conditions in less developed countries differs when compared and debated. The main objective of this WP is to assess how the different processes of integration into world markets have influenced poverty at different levels (industry and business, regional, rural and urban households and migrants) and the potential ways of improving the contribution of globalisation to poverty reduction, which might involve EU policy. Comparative studies will be conducted with the help of NOPOOR partners and are expected to shape a new view of the relationship between trade liberalisation and poverty reduction.

The specific objective of this research is to:

1. Discuss the relationship between the extent and nature of specialisation (e.g. primary vs. manufacturing industries) and poverty transiting through the labour market and wages, internal migration and pressure on basic resources.
2. Assess the balance of contradictory effects on poverty of outward-looking “clusters” and free trade zones within countries.
3. Introduce international migration as a basic characteristic of globalisation.
4. Develop a legal analysis of economic and social human rights and their incorporation in the current framework of world trade law (including EU trade and cooperation agreements). 

What is our work for this specific research?

• How trade globalisation affects poverty
• How industrial strategies affect poverty
• Survey based analysis of the dynamics of international migration
• How trade and cooperation agreements impact poverty

Research examples

Madagascar: The impact of industrial strategies on poverty
What are the consequences of the end of the Multi-Fiber Agreement on the local garment clusters? What is the contribution of garment clusters to poverty alleviation in urban areas and their impact on urban /rural migration? (Research: UA-CEE)

Ecuador/Spain: Exploring the effects of Ecuadorian migration to Spain
What is the connection between migration dynamics and poverty alleviation? How can we address migration and return policies to maximize migration outcome in terms of poverty? (Research: UAM)

Cross-Country A nalysis: Economic, labour and human rights in relation to World Trade Law
This part of research provides a legal analysis of economic, labour and human rights, and verifies how these rights are applied in the current framework of World Trade Law. (Research: UPD, ITESM-EGAP)