An evaluation of the economic effects of the aid and trade provision
评估了英国1978年至1990年实施的援助与贸易条款（ATP）的经济效应，发现其作为出口补贴虽使特定行业和公司获益，但因国际惯例和寻租行为，不太可能为英国或最不发达国家带来净经济收益。
This article offers an evaluation of the Aid and Trade Provision from its introduction in 1978 up to 1990. In economic terms it is an export subsidy, and we ask if it meets the criteria for a subsidy under strategic trade policy. The commercial benefits to specific industries and companies are shown to be quite high, especially relative to the initial outlay, and ATP appears to go to some industries earning monopoly rents and exhibiting scale or external economies so it could form part of a strategic trade policy. We argue that even where it is awarded to suitable industries ATP is unlikely to confer strategic benefits on the UK, largely because of international practice and rent‐seeking. We conclude that ATP is unlikely to be of a net economic benefit to the UK or LDCs.