Does Trade Openness Increase Vulnerability? A Survey of the Literature

Abstract

This work focuses on the welfare costs of exposure to shocks and uncertainty linked to trade opennes - a prominent issue in the international debate. It contributes by presenting a comprehensive review of the literature on the "destabilizing effects" of trade openness, drawing together studies in different fields. It provides a conceptualization of vulnerability and three promising lines of reasoning for future research on the link between trade and vulnerability.