Abstract
This paper asks the question of how preferential trade
agreements affect civil society restrictions. It argues that preferential trade
agreements reduce civil society restrictions. However, this relationship varies
across different types of trade agreements. We test the hypotheses using a
gravity model of trade by incorporating directed-dyads data on PTAs and civil
society restrictions from 1948 to 2009. The results suggest a curvilinear
relationship between preferential trade agreements and civil society
restrictions. Moreover, it appears that countries signing in-depth trade
agreements increase civil society participation compared to the ones signing
shallow trade agreements.
