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This research paper examines the decline of South Africa's clothing and textile sector following the end of the Multi Fibre Agreement (MFA) in 2004 and the subsequent rise of Chinese exports. It argues that while imports from China have caused significant job losses, the sector's primary failure is a lack of competitiveness due to high labour costs, low productivity, and rigid labour markets. The author suggests that further trade protection is unlikely to be effective and instead advocates for non-trade industrial policy tools, such as skills and capital upgrades, and a strategic shift toward high-end niche products.

This policy brief examines China's strategic investments in bauxite mining and infrastructure within Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, highlighting the lack of regulatory oversight and the potential for significant transboundary environmental impacts.

This research paper evaluates the 'price-gap approach' for measuring fossil fuel subsidies, arguing that while it provides a useful global benchmark, it systematically understates the total magnitude of government support by ignoring transfers that do not affect end-user prices.

This case study examines the impact of investment incentives on foreign direct investment (FDI) in Vietnam's mining and quarrying sector, assessing their role in promoting economic, social, and environmental sustainability.

This policy briefing from the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the economic relationship between intellectual property rights (IPRs) and development in developing countries. It analyzes the trade-offs between providing incentives for innovators through temporary monopolies and ensuring public access to essential knowledge and medicines. The document reviews the impact of IPRs across various sectors, the role of international agreements like TRIPS, and the debate over whether strong IPR protection stimulates or hinders economic growth and technology transfer in developing nations.

This report examines China's economic engagement with Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, highlighting a trade structure dominated by Chinese imports of natural resources and exports of manufactured goods, and the increasing role of Chinese state-owned enterprises in the region's extractive sectors.

This report analyzes the environmental and social impacts of the global cotton textile product chain, focusing on China's role as a major producer, importer, and exporter. It evaluates the trade-offs between economic growth and environmental degradation, proposing a transition toward sustainable cotton production and the internalization of environmental costs to maintain long-term competitiveness.

This report presents a pilot Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of hydropower development in Viet Nam, conducted by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) for the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT). The study evaluates the hydropower plans within the context of Power Development Plan (PDP) VI, comparing the base scenario against alternatives where hydropower is replaced by thermal power. The SEA concludes that while hydropower is the least-cost option for meeting energy demands, current mitigation measures for social and environmental impacts are inadequate. It proposes a comprehensive mitigation framework based on international best practices, including the Impoverishment, Risk and Reconstruction (IRR) model for displaced people and community forestry for the zones of influence. The report recommends the full institutionalization of SEA into the PDP VII process to internalize external costs and ensure sustainable development.

This guide provides a comprehensive checklist for governments and stakeholders to evaluate the sustainable development impacts of investment incentives. It emphasizes a multi-level analysis covering individual projects, general incentive policy design, and the influence of international agreements, arguing that economic growth alone is an insufficient measure of success.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the World Agroforestry Centre (ASB-ICRAF) outlines key messages for the Copenhagen climate talks based on workshops held in Vietnam and Kenya. It advocates for the inclusion of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) and agriculture in international climate agreements, while emphasizing the need for balanced measurement requirements, regional cooperation to prevent leakage, and a phased implementation approach to support varying levels of national capacity.

This 2009 case study by the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the impact of investment incentives on the mining and quarrying industry in Vietnam between 2000 and 2006. The report finds that while tax incentives are highly valued by foreign invested enterprises (FIEs), they are not a prerequisite for investment decisions and have failed to drive sustainable development behaviors. FIEs outperformed domestic firms economically but showed passive approaches to social welfare and environmental protection, often doing only the minimum required by law.

This case study examines the impact of investment incentives on the chemical and pharmaceutical industry in Indonesia, specifically focusing on the Banten province. It analyzes the evolution of Indonesian investment laws, the effectiveness of these incentives in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), and the resulting socio-economic and environmental consequences.

This 2009 report by the National Economic Research Institute, commissioned by the IISD and IUCN, examines the role of the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) in managing the rapid growth of the plantation industry in Lao PDR. It highlights a critical gap between the MPI's role as the final investment decision-maker and its limited capacity to integrate environmental and social considerations into that process, recommending stronger inter-agency coordination and the establishment of monitoring systems.

This policy brief examines China's increasing influence in the agribusiness, hydropower, and mining sectors of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, driven by China's demand for inexpensive natural resources.

This report by Friends of the Earth International critiques the European Union's 'Global Europe' strategy, arguing that its pursuit of a 'new generation' of bilateral Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) prioritizes the competitiveness of European transnational corporations over sustainable development, food sovereignty, and the sovereignty of developing nations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

This report analyzes the environmental impacts of the 2004 ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA) on the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS), specifically focusing on trade flows and pollution levels between China and Cambodia, Lao PDR, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Thailand.

This report analyzes the environmental and social impacts of China's role as a leading producer, importer, and exporter in the global cotton and textile supply chain. It examines the trade-offs between economic growth and environmental degradation, proposing a transition toward sustainable production practices and a strategic shift in sourcing toward rain-fed regions in Africa to reduce global environmental pressure.

This briefing by the Stockholm Environment Institute analyzes the impact of Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar and draws lessons from previous disasters, such as the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami and the 1991 Bangladesh Cyclone, to guide recovery and build long-term resilience.

This report examines the environmental impacts of trade liberalization in the wood and wood products sector of Lao PDR, highlighting the tension between high regional demand and the challenges of low-value exports, illegal logging, and inefficient processing infrastructure.

This 2008 report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) for the SEED Initiative examines the challenges and processes of scaling up and replicating social and environmental enterprises. It contrasts the 'large scale' ambitions of international development donors with the modest, viability-focused growth goals of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMMEs), suggesting that recognition and reward programs should provide more tailored, long-term support and help create enabling environments rather than expecting entrepreneurs to drive systemic societal transformation alone.