Export alliances as a mechanism of dependence control in the world system: the case of OPEC

Thesis/Dissertation · Fri Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:5658431

Gerami, S

This paper is concerned with the role of export alliances in the world-system and their impact on the socio-economic structures of their members. World-system theory argues that the capitalist world-economy and free international trade result in primary product specialization in Third World countries which, in turn, intensifies their economic underdevelopment. The school of neoclassical economics, on the other hand, maintains that when countries specialize in the production of those goods in which they have a comparative advantage and exchange them for other goods, the result is a larger output at the world level. This paper is a critical evaluation of these models. It is suggested here that, through integrated export policies, less-developed countries can counteract the dependency-generating tendencies of the world economy. A historical study of five export alliances, followed by a quantitative analysis of OPEC, support some but not all premises of these theories. This study reveals that participation in OPEC did not lead to economic diversification of its member countries, but increased their remunerative return and helped further their economic growth.

• OSTI ID: 5658431
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020700 -- Petroleum-- Economics
Industrial
& Business Aspects
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290200* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Economics & Sociology
294002 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Petroleum
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ECONOMICS
EXPORTS
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
OIL-EXPORTING COUNTRIES
OPEC
TRADE