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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.
Research on the management and implementation of EU Cohesion policy has informed the legislative proposals made in 2011 by the European Commission for the reform of Cohesion policy. It has also influenced some organisational changes within the Commission introduced in early 2013. EU Cohesion policy is the second largest area of expenditure in the EU budget, currently worth c. €347bn for the 2007-13 period, and provides funding for regional socio-economic development programmes in all EU Member States. The legislative proposals influenced by the Strathclyde research affect every national, regional and local authority in the EU benefiting from EU Structural and Cohesion Funds.
The global financial crisis led the European Union (EU) to diversify its sources for the EU Budget, including co-financing instruments with multilateral development banks. Dr Robinson's research addressed key concerns about financial risk and the lack of transparency created through such partnerships. His research has been recognised as improving the understanding of these complex instruments within EU institutions and its impact may be measured through the implementation of several of its key recommendations. These include the creation of the `EBRD Representative for EU affairs' within a participating bank, the acceleration of EU co-financing strategy, and the unprecedented action of the EU Court of Auditors including the banks in their auditing process.
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.
This case study focuses on the development of the European Union (EU) as a global political/security actor, particularly regarding the dynamic relationship between institution-building, strategic thinking, and policy performance. The impact involves the influence of Professor Michael E. Smith's research on EU foreign/security policy on current policy debates about the EU's future as a global actor, and on the broader issue of the EU's purpose in world politics. The EU is currently considering ideas about how to reform its ambitions in this area in light of the 2009 Treaty of Lisbon, providing a major opportunity for Smith's work to have an impact.
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.
University of Manchester (UoM) research considers the role, position and perception of developing countries in the World Trade Organisation (WTO). It is informed by a deep unease at the way developing and least developed countries (LDCs) have been consistently unable to participate in the multilateral trading system on an equitable basis, and are routinely rendered powerless to realise the meaningful gains that the global trade regime habitually promises. Impact is achieved through a systematic and sustained programme of dissemination, consultation and engagement with high level international policymakers, government officials and civil society organisations, resulting in measurable and meaningful policy change. In conjunction with these stakeholders, the research has: informed the negotiating positions of several states — including South Africa, Turkey, the Seychelles and Nigeria; shaped thinking around the future of the global trade architecture; and contributed to a number of training programmes, most notably at the UN.
Professor Martin Dangerfield's research has focused on subregional cooperation in post-Cold War Europe with special emphasis on interactions with broader European integration processes. Its significance was acknowledged by policy-making communities at national, subregional and EU level. Dangerfield was appointed to advisory roles in events that both debated and informed public policy and enhanced public awareness. These concerned multilateral foreign policy cooperation of new EU members, namely the Visegrad Group (VG), and conception, design and implementation of a major EU initiative — the `Macro-Regional Strategy'. Dangerfield's work has also been cited widely in relevant non-academic publications produced for policy analysis and to deliver recommendations.
Boeger has co-produced a highly influential body of collaborative work on telecommunications regulation which had direct impact across the EU. It has led to: substantial reform of Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications ("BEREC") and its Office's working methods; dialogue shaping across the EU Commission, European Parliament, and Member States; influenced an EU Parliament report; and has been the driver of inter-institutional pressure on BEREC and its office. In summary, the research kick-started and directly shaped the substantial changes to BEREC and its office both now and for the future, and is a key reference point. The overall aim is to improve the co-ordinated regulation of telecoms markets across the EU.