Confounding conventional wisdom: political not principled differences in the transatlantic regulatory relationship

Young, A.R. (2009) Confounding conventional wisdom: political not principled differences in the transatlantic regulatory relationship. British Journal of Politics and International Relations, 11(4), pp. 666-689. (doi: 10.1111/j.1467-856X.2009.00386.x)

Abstract

The transatlantic complaints over hormone-treated beef and genetically modified organisms before the World Trade Organisation (WTO) seem to confirm two separate but related conventional wisdoms about the transatlantic economic relationship: that it is highly conflictual and that many of the conflicts are rooted in profoundly different approaches to regulation. This article argues that neither of the two conventional wisdoms is accurate. Rather, it contends that they are products of two, compounding analytical shortcomings: one methodological, one empirical. The methodological shortcoming takes the form of an implicit selection bias. While WTO complaints are high profile they are rare and extreme examples; it is, therefore, unsound to generalise from them to the regulatory relationship as a whole. The empirical shortcoming has to do with neither the beef hormones nor the GMO dispute demonstrating what it is purported to. The article thus serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of relying on obvious cases and the need to question whether evidence really does support a prevailing popular narrative.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: The definitive version is available at www3.interscience.wiley.com
• Keywords: Precautionary principle, trade disputes, transatlantic relations, World Trade Organisation
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Young, Professor Alasdair
• Authors: Young, A.R.
• Subjects: H Social Sciences > HB Economic Theory
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Politics
• Journal Name: British Journal of Politics and International Relations
• Publisher: Political Studies Association and Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• ISSN: 1369-1481
• ISSN (Online): 1467-856X
• Published Online: 09 October 2009
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2009 Political Studies Association and Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• First Published: First published in British Journal of Politics and International Relations 11(4):666-689
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher.