COST OF ECONOMIC NON-COOPERATION TO CONSUMERS IN SOUTH ASIA (COENCOSA)

1. COST OF ECONOMIC NON-COOPERATION TO CONSUMERS IN SOUTH ASIA(COENCOSA) Perception Survey on Trade Liberalisation and Consumer Welfare in South Asia Project Review MeetingDhaka, June 28, 2011

2. Content • Objectives • Perception and Reality • Reasons for this approach • Methodology • Target Groups • Sampling Method / Surveying Method • Draft Questionnaire • Timeframe • Outcome and Value-Addition

3. Perception and Reality • A combination of positive economics and normative economics • Variations exists between reality and perception/ideology • A need to identify differences between reality and perception/ideology

4. Reasons for this Approach • Measuring the level of misinformation that persists among stakeholders on trade liberalization and its effects to consumers in South Asia • Assessment of the gap between perception and reality to facilitate appropriate responses. • Framing policy suggestions backed by insights drawn from practical experiences of stakeholders in various capacities

5. Reasons for this Approach • Identification of shortcomings in current data and debates and hence areas for further research • Focussed advocacy efforts

6. Methodology • Stakeholder perception survey to be executed in twelve cities across five South Asian countries • Bangladesh: Dhaka and Chittagong • India: Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai • Nepal: Biratnagar and Kathmandu • Pakistan: Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore • Sri Lanka: Colombo

7. Continued… • Twenty-five stakeholders in each city • A total of three hundred stakeholders • Estimated eight to ten days to carry out field survey in each city

8. Partners Involved • Bangladesh: Institute for Policy, Advocacy, and Governance • Nepal: South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics & Environment • Pakistan: Sustainable Development Policy Institute • Sri Lanka: Institute of Policy Studies

9. Stakeholders’ Groups Targeted • Government Officials (dealing with issues of regional trade integration) • Politicians • Academicians • Trade and Industry Representatives/Associations • Representatives of Consumer Organisations • Media

10. Selection of Stakeholders • A list of interviewees in each country will be prepared by sequentially taking into account the following criteria • Balanced representation from each stakeholders’ group • Selection based on the extent and importance of involvement of respective stakeholder groups in South Asian regional trade

11. Selection of Stakeholders • Short listed interviewees to be categorised based on two criteria viz., (a) Approach towards trade policy and (b) Degree of influence on trade policy making • Balanced representation for interviewees from different categories in order to capture the diversity of views

12. Questionnaires & Analysis • CUTS will prepare a semi-structured questionnaire in consultation with partners for this proposed perception survey • CUTS and partner organisations will be responsible for conducting interviews and preparing transcripts in respective countries. • CUTS team will do qualitative data analysis based upon results from the field survey • Such results will be juxtaposed with meta-analysis results on regional trade integration in South Asia

13. Timeframe • Perception survey during July and August 2011 • Data Analysis and draft report: September 2011 • Peer review of draft report: October 2011 • Final Draft: November 2011 • Publication and Dissemination: December 2011

14. Outcome and Value-Addition • Development of a forward-looking agenda for further trade liberalization by: • Assessing the cost of economic non-cooperation to consumers in South Asia • Understanding political-economic scenario of regional trade integration in South Asia • Identifying shortcomings and suggest policy recommendations to broaden intra-regional trade

15. Thank You!