Cross border trade and livelihood impacts

Abstract

This thesis deals with the study of border trade between India and Myanmar at Moreh newlinetown and its impact on livelihood. Border trade at Moreh has been operationalized since 1995 newlineafter the signing of Border Trade Agreement between Government of India and Myanmar. newlineFormal and informal trade takes place through this border town. Unlike previous studies newlinewhich have focussed mostly on formal trade, the present study does not concentrate only on newlinethe formal trade. It studies trade from a holistic view, both formal and informal. newlineThe important question that this study attempts to address pertains to welfare consequences of border trade. Many country experiences demonstrate that cross-border trade newlinecreates conditions for the emergence of livelihood opportunities for households living in the newlinefrontiers. Border trade strengthens production in the local cross-border economy, as also newlinegenerating service provision such as storage facilities, transportation, and ancillary services newlinein border bazaars. It thus benefits not only traders lives and incomes, but also those of other newlinenon-trading border households. The main goal of the thesis is to study the developmental newlineaspect of border trade at Moreh. newlineIn the context of India s Look East Policy (LEP), Moreh has become a very important newlineborder trade and transit point due to its strategic location. Many new policies are currently newlinebeing planned and legally passed in order to further increase Indo-Myanmar border trade newlinethrough Moreh. Therefore, it is imperative that a rigorous study be carried out to assess the newlinelikely impacts of different trade scenarios specially in the context of Moreh. newlineResearch Questions: The thesis attempts to answer the following research questions: