Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 March 2020
In recent years, international product markets have become more open as a consequence of a reduction in local trade barriers such as the completion of the single market in Europe and the North American Free Trade Agreement and through a reduction in worldwide trade barriers through GATT. The resulting increase in the competitiveness of global product markets has been intensified by the emergence of competition from the former Communist countries in Europe and rapidly developing countries from South East Asia.
I am grateful to Andrew Britton, Geoff Mason and Nick Oulton for comments on an earlier draft and am pleased to thank the Leverhulme Trust for their financial support.