Assessing the economic impact of north-south free trade agreements : China-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement and China-Australia free trade agreement

Abstract

A thesis submitted to the Victoria University of Wellington in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in International Relations. This research develops a model of assessing the economic impact of free trade agreements (FTAs) between developed countries and developing countries (north-south FTAs). This model goes beyond the conventional studies that use static effects in traditional gains as primary indicators of the economic impact, and incorporates dynamics effects as well as non-traditional gains for a more accurate assessment. The research uses China's north-south FTAs, namely, China's FTA with New Zealand - the first comprehensive FTA that China has signed with a developed country - and the proposed FTA between China and Australia. Both cases provide an ideal empirical basis for testing the proposed model.