Environmental trade barriers and developing countries: policy lessons from new institutional economics

Abstract

Environmental technical requirements can become trade barriers, especially when it concerns to developing countries. these countries have specific characteristics and a consensual aspect of the discussion about the political possibilities. by using elements of the institutional economics, one may recognize environmental requirements as formal institutions; firms, conformity assessment and accreditation bodies as organizations and developing countries’ particularities as informal restrictions. therefore, the transfer of developed countries requirements will not bring the same results for the developing countries’ performance. one may also imagine that dynamical interaction between institutions and organizations can lead to a positive institutional change.