North American Economic Integration : Theory and Practice

As part of a larger project funded by the US Information Agency's University Affiliation Program, Canadian, US, and Mexican economists explain the North American Free Trade Agreement to readers who understand the basic principles of economics. They consider how and why it emerged in the early 1990s and its performance since implementation, the economic development and commercial policy of each member country in the context of the global economy, the pact's technical strengths and limitation, and ongoing debates. They argue that it has introduced social and environmental innovations in trade agreements, but provides a less than perfect approach to managing the continent's economic integration.

Alan J. MacFadyen is Associate Professor of Economics, University of Calgary.