Political economy of international economic organization

This book makes an important contribution towards a better understanding of the economic, social, political and institutional sectors influencing the format and performance of international econ omic organisations." PROFESSOR H. W. SINGER, Institute of Develop ment Studies, University of Sussex.

This important new book develops an analytical framework for measur ing the impact of international econ omic organizations which play a key role in the relations between North and South. As economic interdepen dence increases and the dispersal of economic power within the Western industrialised countries widens, the role of EIO's as producers of interna tional public goods and policies is also likely to expand.

Ansari first establishes the import ance of international economic organizations as a vehicle for regulat ing economic flows across national frontiers. He develops the theor etical framework for assessing their environmental effectiveness, and their scope of influence. The struc ture of decision-making within the organisation is examined, together with the relationship between the secretariat and the client.

The book presents a general theory for a systematic study of the inter national economic organizations which can identify the factors which account for their success or failure. This is illustrated with the study of the environmental impact and or ganizational structures of United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). This gen eral approach will be invaluable for assessing the performance and deci sion-making procedures of other in ternational organizations.