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Dr Stephen Woolcock's research on EU trade and trade policy, with particular focus on free trade agreements, underpins the work of the LSE's International Trade Policy Unit (ITPU). On the basis of this research, the ITPU was granted a framework contract to provide expert analysis on trade and trade-related topics for the European Parliament's International Trade Committee (INTA). ITPU input has subsequently stimulated and informed debate within the European Parliament and shaped EU policy on free trade agreements.
Research by the School's Centre for Research on Economic Development and International Trade (CREDIT) on the relative importance of trade policy and non-trade policy barriers (especially high transport costs) in determining international trade costs and export performance in Africa has directly influenced the design of the national trade policies of Uganda and Kenya. It has also contributed to shaping changes in the policy guidance given by agencies such as the UK's Department for International Development (DFID), the African Development Bank and Commonwealth Secretariat about the need for developing countries to use appropriate, complementary non-trade policies to improve the effectiveness of trade reforms and policies in developing countries (in particular in Africa). Specifically, the research has contributed to a body of evidence about the need to increase the emphasis given to trade facilitation and transport infrastructure in African trade policy reforms, which has in turn informed trade policy design and implementation in a number of African countries.
Amrita Narlikar has made a systematic analysis of developing countries' coalition and bargaining strategies in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) which has provided practitioners with an analytic toolkit to navigate complex political economy issues. Key negotiators refer to this work as they develop their coalition strategies, thus helping with the empowerment of developing countries. Expert attempts to reform the WTO have utilised the institutional analysis conducted. The value of the research is recognized by practitioners from developing countries and by others aiming to resolve multilateral deadlocks.
The research at the University of Reading has developed statistical methods and information systems for two global monitoring systems for elephants: MIKE (Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants) and ETIS (Elephant Trade Information System). The systems provide quantitative evidence, via bias-adjusted indicators, on global and regional trends in the illegal killing of elephants and the illicit ivory trade. This evidence forms the substance of reports discussed at the Convention for International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Based on this information, CITES has adopted decisions to introduce interventions targeting over 20 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East aimed at curbing the illegal ivory trade. As well as providing the underpinning data that has informed international policy on illicit trading of this threatened species, the evidence has also helped raise public awareness of the threats to elephants as well as improving monitoring systems and increasing their reach.
Trade and finance are the lifeblood of the global economy. Research conducted within the International Political Economy (IPE) cluster has tracked changes in how trade and finance are governed. This case study demonstrates the impact of the IPE cluster on a range of beneficiaries including national governments, international organisations and non-governmental organisations. Via the £4.3M ESRC-funded Centre for the Study of Globalisation and Regionalisation (CSGR), members of the IPE cluster have influenced national economic policies, shaped policy debates on international regulatory regimes and informed the attempts of non-state actors to raise ethical standards in transnational corporate practices.
Influential work on insurance law by Professor Rob Merkin led directly to the repeal of the outmoded and increasingly unpopular Third Parties (Rights Against Insurers) Act 1930. With its predecessor criticised for its demands on time and costs, a new Act made it simpler, faster and cheaper for a third-party claimant to recover compensation from an insurer without instituting proceedings against the insured. Merkin not only drew policymakers' attention to the old Act's defects but provided a detailed basis on which to formulate its successor, which earned Royal Assent in 2010.
Professor Sue Arrowsmith's research significantly influenced UNCITRAL's revised 2011 Model Law on Public Procurement. This is a model regulatory framework of global relevance that aims to help national governments avoid waste, secure adequate public services, and fight corruption in procurement. The UNCITRAL Secretariat's presentation of reform options to the Model Law Working Group was based directly on both the novel analytical templates and the detailed recommendations developed by Arrowsmith, and many of the revised Model Law's provisions on both existing and new subjects of regulation follow directly the specific recommendations in Arrowsmith's research.
Research published in peer-reviewed journals/books and reports commissioned by government departments have had significant impact on UK government policy relating to the reform of domestic consumer law.
Impact can be seen in legislation adopted to transpose EU directives into domestic law, as well as the development of reform proposals during the current period (notably the Consumer Rights Bill [draft bill published on 12 June 2013]). The research was also used to give evidence to a House of Lords Select Committee and to assist the Law Commission with several projects.
The ultimate non-academic beneficiaries are UK consumers, because a clearer and streamlined set of legal rules will make it easier for them to identify their rights and encourage greater compliance by business. Other non-academic beneficiaries are staff from Consumer Direct and the Citizens Advice Bureau who advise on consumer law, and the UK government itself.
Research at Heriot-Watt University led to the development of a Knowledge Transfer Project (CALM) between the University and Caledonian Aerotech, known as Caledonian Alloys (CA). The KTP enabled CA to deliver material on-time and provide real-time information on the progress of shipments which led to existing customers purchasing greater proportion of their material requirements from CA over competitors. Customers Rolls Royce in the UK and Allvac in US awarded new long term processing contracts in 2009 worth $4m annually in which the CALM capability had a major influence. The company increased from 119 employees in 2004 to 309 in 2009 and currently employs 280 worldwide, reflecting the impact of the research on the company's performance.