Acta Oeconomica Pragensia 2008, 16(2):70-89 | DOI: 10.18267/j.aop.58

Fragmentation versus Unity of the World Economy

Pavel Neumann
Doc. PhDr. Pavel Neumann, Ph.D. - Associated Professor, Department of the World Economy, Faculty of International Relations, University of Economics, Prague; nám. W. Churchilla 4, 130 67 Praha 3, Czech Republic, neumann@vse.cz

The article deals with fragmentation and unity prospects of the world economy with respect to the role of its main centres (Europe/EU, East Asia, America). From the view point of the process of the running multilateral liberalisation the world economy was formed as relatively unified at first after World War II. However, regionalisation intensified in 1990s and since then stronger fragmentation has become a natural element of the world economy globalization as "new regionalism". Theoretically, the fragmentation process can be explained by Viner's customs union theory as well as later by the regionalism domino theory developed by many authors. Concerning the role of individual centres, despite its present differentiation, Europe (EU), is more unified than the other regions. However, with its deep integration concept and trade diversion stemming from a high intratrade rate, Europe contributes rather to the world fragmentation. East Asia represented by ASEAN keeps still sticking to the shallow integration, co-operating with non-member partners. The group represents best the open regionalism characteristics, currently not strengthening the world economy fragmentation. The American area remains still relatively fragmented despite the U.S. effort to create a wide integration zone similar to NAFTA. The American region appears more open than Europe with respect to the intratrade share, nevertheless, its integration structure is still in progress; and its impact on the solution of the world economy fragmentation-unity dilemma is uncertain.

Keywords: world economy, fragmentation, unity, regionalism, multilateralism, regional trade agreements, intratrade
JEL classification: G30

Published: April 1, 2008  Show citation

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Neumann, P. (2008). Fragmentation versus Unity of the World Economy. Acta Oeconomica Pragensia, 16(2), 70-89. doi: 10.18267/j.aop.58
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