COST OF ECONOMIC NON-COOPERATION TO CONSUMERS IN SOUTH ASIA (COENCOSA) Perception Survey on Trade Liberalisation and Consumer Welfare in South Asia Project Review Meeting Dhaka, 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!