Trade in Aviation Services

Abstract

Many problems slow the progress of research on trade in services. To add to the difficult conceptualization and characterization process and to the correspondingly difficult task of modeling these features as they relate to trade, the lack of good data has hindered the analysis of trade in services. Much work has proceeded in the past few years, however it will take several more years, at least, to generate the data requirements for thorough empirical study (especially bilateral data). Preliminary work, such as those cited in the previous chapter, has stretched the balance of payments statistics quite far. Although more useful work can be done, especially with the longer time series now available, it appears that a sectoral approach to these isuues also may bear fruit. This seems doubly attractive since the work of the GNS increasingly focuses attention on individual service sectors. Several important sectors, particularly those with long established international organizations designed to deal with sector specific areas, have a hidden supply of relevant data. The organizations assigned to specific sectors have rarely focused directly on trade issues until quite recently and they certainly have not approached this topic within the broader context of trade in services. (UNCTAD’s work on shipping and insurance, and the UNCTC’s work on transborder data flows are the exceptions.)