Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/22020 
Year of Publication: 
2007
Series/Report no.: 
Economics Working Paper No. 2007-02
Publisher: 
Kiel University, Department of Economics, Kiel
Abstract: 
This paper develops a model of the WTO dispute settlement process (DSP) to study the recent proposal by legal scholars to subsidize litigation costs. The high cost of litigation, so the argument, is a major obstacle for developing countries to using the DSP to enforce developed countries? compliance with WTO rules. The paper shows that this proposal may be misguided. In particular, a reduction of litigation costs may lead large countries to impose larger trade impediments where before they may have raised barriers only a little. Thus, a cost reduction may even weaken the smaller countries? position in the DSP. Moreover, the model sheds light on the structure of the dark figure of un-accused offenses, suggesting that the observed record of disputes notified to the WTO is systematically biased.
Subjects: 
Developing Countries
Dispute Settlement
GATT/WTO
Tariff Retaliation
Trade Disputes
JEL: 
F13
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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