The coevolution of trade agreements and investment treaties: Some evidence from network analysis

Nyi Nyi Htwe

Lim Seunghoo

Kakinaka Makoto

Social Networks

Regional trade agreements (RTAs) and bilateral investment treaties (BITs) are expected to promote trade and investment relationships. One critical feature of such agreements is the network, so the multiplex coevolution of RTAs and BITs should be captured by the dynamics of their two networks. Although many studies have examined the roles of RTAs and BITs, most studies do not account for crucial network properties. This study explores how RTAs and BITs coevolve by applying a stochastic actor-oriented model of multiplex network evolution. In particular, we examine the roles of (i) cross-network dyadic interinfluences and (ii) within- and cross-network preferential attachments to discuss the dynamic relationships between RTAs and BITs. The results are as follows. First, our estimation supports cross-network dyadic interinfluences. Countries that sign a BIT are willing to establish an RTA, while those that sign an RTA are reluctant to establish a BIT. Second, concerning preferential attachments, countries prefer to sign BITs with partners that have more RTA and BIT links. However, countries tend to form RTAs with partners that have more BIT links but are reluctant to form RTAs with those that have more RTA links. We discuss possible justifications for these results, including arguments regarding the benefits and costs associated with the formation of RTAs and BITs.

Trade agreements

Investment treaties

Social network analysis

multiplex coevolution

eng

Elsevier

© 2020. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

This is not the published version. Please cite only the published version. この論文は出版社版ではありません。引用の際には出版社版をご確認、ご利用ください。

[ISSN] 0378-8733

[DOI] 10.1016/j.socnet.2019.08.005

[DOI] https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socnet.2019.08.005