Theoretical Basis and Regulatory Framework for Microtrade: Combining Volunteerism with International Trade Towards Poverty Elimination

Law and Development Review, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 367-399, 2009

32 Pages Posted: 20 Dec 2009 Last revised: 20 Oct 2013

See all articles by Yong-Shik Lee

Yong-Shik Lee

The Law and Development Institute; University of Nebraska College of Law

Abstract

Poverty remains a serious global issue, and nearly half of the world's populations are still living below the poverty line. International trade has been a vehicle for successful economic development for some developing economies in East Asia, including South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and more recently, China. With the success of their trade-based economic development policies and the export-driven development strategy, all of these countries escaped from poverty.

Can other developing countries duplicate this success and also bring their populations out of poverty? Some factors, including political stability, organized government support, educated workforce, availability of foreign markets, and financial resources such as foreign loans, have been considered essential for the success of this export-driven economic development strategy. These factors are not present in many developing countries, particularly least-developed countries (LDCs), thus making it difficult for them to pursue successful trade-based development policies to break the circle of poverty.

The author suggests microtrade, defined as international trade of small quantities of locally-produced products (LPPs) produced on a small scale, as an alternative way to provide those living in LDCs with income sufficient to reduce or eliminate poverty. Microtrade, unlike the export-driven development policies undertaken at a national level, is not based on the development of large-scale export industries, which cannot be initiated by many LDCs. This article provides a discussion of the theoretical basis of microtrade and its regulatory framework from the perspective of international trade law.

Keywords: poverty, economic development, trade and development, microtrade, least-developed countries, the World Trade Organization

JEL Classification: K33, F02, F13, K33, O1

Suggested Citation

Lee, Y.S., Theoretical Basis and Regulatory Framework for Microtrade: Combining Volunteerism with International Trade Towards Poverty Elimination. Law and Development Review, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 367-399, 2009, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1524185

Y.S. Lee (Contact Author)

The Law and Development Institute ( email )

United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.lawanddevelopment.net

University of Nebraska College of Law ( email )

730 N. 14th Street
Lincoln, NE 68588
United States

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