| This study examines the effects of trade liberalization and globalization on the economies of developing countries, and investigates the contention that trade openness and greater integration with the world economy stimulate economic growth, and alleviate poverty in those countries. Using Haiti as a case study, this research project analyzes trade data and calculates the share of trade to GDP to determine Haiti's level of openness. It uses money metric and statistical data to examine the effects of openness on the agricultural sector, and to investigate the relationship among trade liberalization, economic growth, and poverty reduction.;The empirical evidence does not support the contention in the case of Haiti despite the country's high level of integration with the world economy (a score of 0.64 in 2003 from 0.29 in 1992). The data show a persistent and increasing trade imbalance, a deterioration in agricultural production, an inverse relationship among trade expansion, growth, and poverty reduction, all of which imply that a positive relationship among the three variables---trade expansion, growth, and poverty reduction is not automatic. The study further reveals the importance of rapport de force in the globalization process and the interplay among global economics, global politics, global governance, and global history.;Keywords. globalization, trade liberalization, openness, agriculture, global economy, nation-states, global governance, international institutions, growth, interdisciplinary. |
