Regional models of trade and development (Studies in Development and Planning, 7)

1.1. THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY This study deals with regional co-operation among developing By regional co-operation is countries and its potential benefits. meant any form of concerted action by the countries of a region aimed at a fuller utilization of their growth potential. Such con­ certed action may consist of various kinds of economic policy measures regarding production, investment and foreign trade. In this sense, regional co-operation is to be regarded as a facet of the participating countries' overall development strategy. Unlike other studies in this field, dealing with integration among developing countries and focussing attention on the planning of such integra­ tion (see, e.g., Mennes 1972), the present study concentrates on the effect of integration and co-ordination policies on the structure of intra-and extra-regional trade. Very often large differences exist among developing countries with respect to various aspects of economic development, e.g., the structure of demand, the structure of capital formation and the growth rates of individual sectors. Such divergencies call for the utilization of a multi-country, multi-sector model that will enable a better co-ordination of production and investment policies. Atten­ tion should thereby be given to the pattern of intra-regional specialization that will result from such a co-ordinated policy.