Quality Infrastructure for Trade

Quality Infrastructure for Trade: Evidence from (Central) Asia

© TUB

Project Background:

The intensification of globalization and the rising emphasis on consumer protection has led to the continual growth of quality requirements in international markets. Exporting to the European Union (EU) and most other high-income markets, in particular, necessitates compliance with international standards set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). However, the certification process poses significant barriers to trade, especially for businesses in developing nations. This research project investigates the impact of Quality Infrastructure (e.g., access to ISO certification) on firm organization, trade facilitation, market access, and economic growth, specifically focusing on (Central) Asian developing countries.

Project Details:

We aim to conduct three studies. We focus (1) on a case study of Uzbekistan (focus on firms from the industrial sector; based on collected survey data by the project team), (2) an ex-post analysis of already successfully implemented quality infrastructure interventions using observational data (e.g., Vietnam and Thailand), and (3) an international study based on macroeconomic data at a global scale (with a focus on Central-Asia). 

Activities of the Institute of Economics:

The Chair of International Economics and the project partners coordinate and carry out the research project.

Duration:

2023-2026

Project partners:

• TU Braunschweig (Prof. Dr. Markus Ludwig)
• TU Dresden (Prof. Dr. Christian Leßmann)
• Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), (Abt. 9.3)