'Jo Swinnen and his co-authors provide a thought-provoking and timely guide to the economics and politics of the rapidly changing world of differentiated products, supply chains, and product quality regulations. It is a well-written book, rich in conceptual insights and fascinating information. A must-read for students of international trade and marketing in the twenty-first century.' David Zilberman, University of California, Berkeley
1. Introduction; 2. Modelling standards; 3. Efficiency and equity effects of standards; 4. The political economy of standards and development; 5. International trade and standards; 6. Risks, externalities and the nature of standards; 7. Endogenous private and public standards in value chains; 8. Butterflies and political economy dynamics in standard setting; 9. The political economy of standards and inclusion in value chains; 10. Standards, production structure and inclusion in value chains; 11. Standards, market imperfections and vertical coordination in value chains; 12. Market power and vertical coordination in value chains; 13. Price transmission in value chains; 14. Commodity characteristics and value chain governance; 15. Economic liberalisation, value chains and development; 16. Standards and value chains with contracting costs: towards a general model; 17. General equilibrium effects of standards in value chains.