Development Traps and Escaping Development Traps: What Can We Learn from Freedom of Information Laws?. Issue 5 (19th October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Erlich, Aaron
• Is Part Of: International trade journal. Volume 30:Issue 5(2016)
• Page Start: 378
• Page End: 382
• Publication Date: 2016-10-19
• Subjects: Economic development -- technological change and growth -- intergovernmental relations -- other substantive areas of law -- state and local government -- trade; International trade -- Periodicals; Commerce -- Periodicals; International economic relations -- Periodicals; 382
• DOI: 10.1080/08853908.2016.1211571
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0885-3908

Abstract

ABSTRACT: In this talk, I discuss my previous research on the relationship between political competition and the passage of Freedom of Information (FOI) laws. In this previous work, using data on Mexican states, I find that political competition is an important determinant of the speed of passage of FOI laws. I then discuss a larger research project that examines all FOI requests made to the Mexican national government and investigate descriptive statistics related to ProMéxico, Mexico's trade promotion agency. I conclude by arguing that FOI laws should be employed more frequently in the study of international trade.