International Trade and Regional Economies: The Impacts of European Integration on the United States

As economic integration among nations emerges as the dominant mechanism affecting trade patterns, the global economy is rapidly evolving into a patchwork of regional blocs. International trade is no longer the exclusive domain of sovereign states; its sources are increasingly found at the supernational level, while its impacts are more and more felt in subnational regions. In addition, the increase in freer economic policies all over the globe has so undermined national authority that regional economies are inevitably opened up to international trade. In this volume, David Hayward considers the issue of regional exposure to external economic events, exploring the role of trade in the performance of American states and regions. Using a shift-share model to evaluate the contribution of exports and imports in the growth of U.S. manufacturing industries, Hayward focuses specifically on the case of trade with the European Community, analyzing the potential impacts of its deepening integration on trade with individual states. He concludes by assessing the distinct variations in states’ trade experiences with the EC.