Nihal Pitigala

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An economist with extensive experience in research and analytical and advisory work on trade and development. He has published numerous peer reviewed articles on regional trade agreements, trade policy and strategy and global value chains (PhD thesis).

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Don Ross

University College Cork

David Seamon

Kansas State University

Elisabetta Silvestri

University of Pavia

Stefano Ponte

Copenhagen Business School, CBS

Armando Marques-Guedes

UNL - New University of Lisbon

Rachel E Smith

University of Aberdeen

Harry Cleaver

The University of Texas at Austin

José Antonio Sanahuja

Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Shabib H . Syed

University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

ELCHİN SULEYMANOV

Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences

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Papers by Nihal Pitigala

Leveraging Institutions for Trade Development

Strengthening Competitiveness In Bangladesh—Thematic Assessment: A Diagnostic Trade Integration Study, 2016

Market Access: From Preferences to Global Integration

Strengthening Competitiveness In Bangladesh—Thematic Assessment: A Diagnostic Trade Integration Study, 2016

South Asia’s Economic Prospects from Global Rebalancing and Integration

World Bank South Asia economic update 2010 : moving up, looking east

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Global Economic Crisis and Vertical Specialization in Developing Countries

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Reinvigorating the agenda for open trade

Pakistan's trade performance is disappointing. Despite being in a very dynamic region, the countr... more Pakistan's trade performance is disappointing. Despite being in a very dynamic region, the country's position in world trade has barely changed over the past three decades. The trade to GDP ratio showed only a very small increase in the last decade. Exports generally lack sophistication, and dynamism (as marked by entry and exit in foreign markets and new exports) has declined in recent years, coinciding with the reversal of trade policy to a less open stance since the mid-2000s. Open trade is central to any growth strategy-worldwide, no successful growth story has exclusively featured inward-looking growth. Restoring the country's place in international markets is thus critical for resuming growth, raising productivity, and creating jobs. To improve its trade competitiveness, Pakistan needs to simplify tariffs and trade regulations in order to reduce the anti-export bias; accelerate deep preferential trade agreements to encourage trade creation; fully normalize trade relations with India to benefit from growth there; and address logistical weaknesses to reduce trade costs.

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Impact of multiple-taxation on competitiveness in Nigeria

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Global Economic Crisis and Developing Countries: Role of Vertical Specialization

South Asia Economic Journal, Mar 1, 2010

After a remarkable increase in the previous decade, world trade has been experiencing a dramatic ... more

South Asia’s Economic Prospects from Global Rebalancing and Integration

Global Economic Crisis and Developing Countries: Role of Vertical Specialization

South Asia Economic Journal, 2010

After a remarkable increase in the previous decade, world trade has been experiencing a dramatic ... more

Global Economic Crisis and Global Value Chains

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Moving Up, Looking East — Prospects for South Asia’s Integration After the Global Crisis

Challenges and Prospects, 2012

South Asia's rebound since March 2009 has been strong, and is comparable to that in East Asia. So... more South Asia's rebound since March 2009 has been strong, and is comparable to that in East Asia. South Asia is poised to grow by about 7 percent in 2010 and nearly 8 percent in 2011, thanks to the strong recovery in India, good performance in Bangladesh, post-conflict bounce in Sri Lanka, recovery in Pakistan, and turnarounds in other countries, including Afghanistan, Bhutan, and Maldives. The region's prospective growth is close to pre-crisis peak levels and faster than the high rates of the early part of the decade (6.5 percent annually from 2000 to 2007). The recovery is being led by rising domestic confidence and is balanced in terms of domestic versus external demand, consumption versus investment, and private demand versus reliance on stimulus. Government policy, external support, resumption of private spending and global recovery are driving the rebound. Strong government fiscal and monetary stimulus packages and, in some cases, external assistance are helping stimulate recovery. Improved optimism is helping the recovery in private spending in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka. World trade and demand recovery is also supporting the rebound in exports and tourism, as are capital inflows. Not everyone is doing equally well, with slower recovery in countries with weaker fundamentals, those with unresolved conflict or postconflict issues, and those that were heavily exposed to the global downturn (Maldives, Nepal, and Pakistan). Some significant risks are ahead in the global environment-slowing worker remittances and exports in a still hesitant and uncertain global recovery (which recent events in Europe have highlighted), volatile commodity prices, and continuing volatility in global capital flows. Strong, timely policy interventions were and are a key to confidence and recovery. Monetary policy was eased and interest rates sharply lowered during the crisis, cushioning private demand. Fiscal stimulus amounted to more than 3 percent of GDP in India and helped revive confidence and optimism, assisted by pre-election spending and civil service salary raises. Bangladesh was similarly placed to take fiscal action. Other countries had more limited room, and they tightened policies initially to shore up macrostability, before easing policies to strengthen their recoveries (Pakistan and Sri Lanka).

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Preferential Trading In South Asia

by Nihal Pitigala and Tercan Baysan

Policy Research Working Papers, 2006

Abstract. This paper examines the economic case for the South Asia Free Trade Area (SAFTA) Agreem... more

What Does Regional Trade in South Asia Reveal about Future Trade Integration? Some Empirical Evidence

Policy Research Working Papers, 2005

In 1995, the seven South Asian countries-Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan... more In 1995, the seven South Asian countries-Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka-initiated a multilateral framework for region-wide integration under the South Asian Preferential Trade Agreement (SAPTA). In a recent initiative, members agreed that SAPTA would begin the transformation into a South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) by the beginning of 2006, with full implementation completed between 2009 and 2013. The impetus toward regional preferential trading arrangements and greater regional economic integration raises many important issues, both for the South Asian region as a whole and for the individual countries.

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Leveraging Institutions for Trade Development

Strengthening Competitiveness In Bangladesh—Thematic Assessment: A Diagnostic Trade Integration Study, 2016

Market Access: From Preferences to Global Integration

Strengthening Competitiveness In Bangladesh—Thematic Assessment: A Diagnostic Trade Integration Study, 2016

South Asia’s Economic Prospects from Global Rebalancing and Integration

World Bank South Asia economic update 2010 : moving up, looking east

Download

Global Economic Crisis and Vertical Specialization in Developing Countries

Download

Reinvigorating the agenda for open trade

Download