Description
The Thematic Course on Practical Guide for Trade Policy Analysis, a Level 3 training activity implemented within the WTO Progressive Learning Strategy (PLS), represents the highest level of learning among WTO training activities. The course is targeted at government officials who are directly involved in the formulation and conduct of trade policy, and/or researchers and academics who are involved in trade and trade policy related study, research and teaching. The ability to conduct high quality analyses of trade data is essential for decision making both in the government and in the private sector. Multilateral, regional and bilateral trade negotiations, as well as the formulation and implementation of appropriate policies at a national level, require an extensive analysis of economic data and an assessment of the impact of trade policy decisions. The purpose of this advanced level, specialized course is for the participants to learn how to select the appropriate approach to answer their trade policy research question, how to collect the data and implement the analysis. The course is based on the UNCTAD/WTO Practical Guide to Trade Policy Analysis which can be accessed at: http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/publications_e/practical_guide12_e.htm. During the course, participants will become familiar with sources of trade and trade policy data (focussing on trade in goods) and with methodologies for trade and trade policy analysis, including calculation of trade flows and trade policy indicators, the gravity model for trade and the partial equilibrium model. The course will also be a platform for discussion on how to work with policymakers to enhance the use of research in policymaking. Specifically, participants will become familiar with the STATA software, ways of accessing relevant trade and trade policy data and the tools to extract data from databases (WITS, I-TIP and MacMaps) and to quantify trade flows and trad