TY - BOOK AU - Constantinescu,Cristina AU - Constantinescu,Cristina AU - Mattoo,Aaditya AU - Ruta,Michele TI - Does the Global Trade Slowdown Matter? PY - 2016/// CY - Washington, D.C. PB - The World Bank KW - Demand and Supply Effects KW - Economic Growth KW - Economic Theory & Research KW - Emerging Markets KW - Free Trade KW - International Economics & Trade KW - Labor Policies KW - Macroeconomics and Economic Growth KW - Private Sector Development KW - Social Protections and Labor KW - Trade Policy KW - Trade Slowdown N2 - Since the Global Financial Crisis, world trade growth has been subdued and lagging slightly behind growth of gross domestic product. Trade is growing more slowly not only because growth of global gross domestic product is lower, but also because trade itself has become less responsive to gross domestic product. This paper reviews the reasons behind the changing trade-income relationship, and then investigates its consequences for economic growth. On the demand side, sluggish world import growth may adversely affect individual countries' economic growth, as it limits opportunities for their exports. On the supply side, slower trade may diminish the scope for productivity growth through increasing specialization and diffusion of technologies. The paper finds preliminary evidence that the changing trade-income relationship matters, although the quantifiable effects do not appear to be large UR - http://elibrary.worldbank.org/doi/book/10.1596/1813-9450-7673 ER -