The Political Economy of Integration: The Experience of Mercosur: 83 (Routledge Studies in the Modern World Economy)

Jeffrey W. Cason

ISBN 10: 0415778859 / ISBN 13: 9780415778855

Published by Routledge 2010-09-17, 2010

About this Item

Seller Inventory # 6666-TNFPD-9780415778855

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Political Economy of Integration: The Experience of Mercosur: 83 (Routledge Studies in the Modern World Economy)
• Publisher: Routledge 2010-09-17
• Publication Date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0415778859
• ISBN 13: 9780415778855
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

This book assesses South America’s most ambitious attempt at economic integration, Mercosur. It explains the main―and inherent―weaknesses of the integration effort, through explicit comparison with the European experience with integration. Jeffrey Cason argues that the three main reasons for Mercosur’s limited success are weak domestic political institutions in the member countries, vulnerability in the global political economy, and a serious imbalance in the economic and political weight of the member countries.

In addition to providing this overarching explanation for Mercosur’s limitations, the book tells the story of Mercosur’s genesis, development, and frustrations. This book provides both an explanatory framework for understanding Mercosur and a story. It considers how Mercosur emerged, why it was greeted with great enthusiasm (and huge trade growth), and how it hit stumbling blocks as it sought to be more than it was capable of being. The book also focuses on how and why developing countries are inherently limited in any economic integration project.

About the Author

Jeffrey W. Cason is Dean of International Programs and Professor of Political Science at Middlebury College, Vermont.