Preferential Trade Agreements and Migration

Dear Colleagues,

The interplay between preferential trade agreements (PTAs) and migration has become a pivotal axis around contemporary economic and social dynamics in an increasingly globalized world. As nations seek to navigate the complexities of international trade and mobility, the contours of PTAs and migration policies have become increasingly intertwined, shaping the landscape of global labor flows, economic development, and intercultural exchange.

This Special Issue of Economies aims to delve into the multifaceted relationships between PTAs and all aspects of international migration, providing a platform for scholarly discourse that spans various academic disciplines and methodological approaches. The overarching goal is to uncover how PTAs influence migration trends and policies and, conversely, how migration flows impact the negotiation, implementation, and outcomes of PTAs. On the one hand, PTAs can facilitate labor mobility across borders, offering new opportunities for workers and employers and potentially driving economic growth in sending and receiving countries. On the other hand, such agreements can also lead to challenges, including labor market distortions, social integration issues, and political tensions related to migration governance.

The relationship between PTAs and migration extends beyond the economic sphere, encompassing social, cultural, and legal dimensions. This includes the rights of migrant workers, the role of diasporas in fostering trade links, and the impact of remittances on local economies in migrant-sending countries. As such, this Special Issue seeks to explore a comprehensive range of themes, including, but not limited to, the economic impacts of migration in the context of PTAs, the legal frameworks governing labor mobility under these agreements, and the socio-cultural implications of increased cross-border flows.

Aims and Scope

This Special Issue aims to enrich our understanding of the dynamic interplay between PTAs, the depth of PTAs, and migration by bringing together diverse perspectives. We are interested in studies that comprehensively examine how these phenomena shape and are shaped by the global economic order, the implications for labor markets, economic growth, and social cohesion, influencing everything from individual livelihoods to international relations. Through a rigorous scholarly inquiry, we aim to contribute to developing more coherent, equitable, and effective policies that address the complex realities of trade and migration in the 21st century.

We encourage submissions that explore, but are not limited to, the following topics:

• The impact of PTAs on labor migration, including changes in the scale, direction, and nature of migration flow;
• The role of migration clauses and provisions within PTAs and their effectiveness in managing migration;
• Comparative analyses of different PTAs and their respective impacts on migration;
• The implications of PTAs and migration for regional integration and economic development;
• Case studies of specific countries or regions experiencing significant interactions between PTAs and migration;
• Theoretical and empirical analyses of the relationship between trade liberalization, labor mobility, and economic outcomes;
• Policy-oriented studies examining the implications of PTAs and migration for national and international policy frameworks;
• The socio-economic effects of migration in the context of PTAs, including inequality, employment, and social integration;
• Future trends and scenarios in the interplay between PTAs and migration in the context of global economic changes.

Submission Guidelines

We invite original research articles, reviews, and brief communications that contribute to the theme of this Special Issue. Manuscripts should be between 6,000 and 8,000 words, including references, tables, and figures. All submissions must adhere to the journal's formatting and submission guidelines.

Submissions should provide significant new insights into the field and be clear, concise, and accessible to a broad academic audience. Comparative studies and interdisciplinary approaches are particularly welcome.

Peer Review Process

All submissions will undergo a rigorous peer review process in accordance with the journal's high scholarship and academic integrity standards. The review process is double-blind, and the reviewers and authors are kept anonymous.

Important Dates

Submission deadline: 15 October 2024
Notification of acceptance: 31 December 2024
Publication date: 15 January 2025

Submission Procedure

Manuscripts should be submitted online through the Economies submission system. Please select the Special Issue "Preferential Trade Agreements and Migration" during submission. For further information on submission guidelines and the submission process, please visit the journal's website or contact the editorial office at https://www.mdpi.com/journal/economies or https://www.mdpi.com/journal/economies/editorial_office.

About Economies

Economies is an international, peer-reviewed, open-access journal that publishes high-quality research on all aspects of economics, focusing on policy implications. This journal promotes rigorous analyses and contributes to a deeper understanding of economic phenomena.

We look forward to receiving your submissions and contributing to an engaging and informative Special Issue on the complex relationships between preferential trade agreements and migration.

Contact Information

For any inquiries regarding the Special Issue or the submission process, please contact the editorial office at https://www.mdpi.com/journal/economies or https://www.mdpi.com/journal/economies/editorial_office.

This Special Issue will provide a comprehensive platform for scholars to discuss and disseminate their findings on this critical and timely topic. We welcome your contributions and look forward to advancing scholarly and policy discourse.

Prof. Dr. Bedassa Tadesse
Prof. Dr. Roger White
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Economies is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• preferential trade agreements (PTAs)
• international migration
• labor mobility
• economic development
• social integration
• trade liberalization
• regional integration
• policy frameworks
• socio-economic effects
• comparative analyses
• cross-border flows of goods
• cross-border flows of services
• immigrants and technology
• immigrants and GVCs