Clare Short


Clare ShortClare Short was MP for Birmingham Ladywood from 1983 to 2010 and Secretary of State for International Development from 1997 to May 2003. She was Opposition spokesperson on Overseas Development from 1999 to 1997. In 2003, Ms Short resigned from the Government over the Iraq war and in 2006, she resigned the Labour whip. In November 2004, Ms Short’s book An Honourable Deception? New Labour, Iraq, and the Misuse of Power, was awarded Political Book of the Year by Channel 4. In 2006, Ms Short became member of the Advocacy Panel of Cities Alliance. She stood down from Parliament in 2010, and is now active in various organisations working on slum upgrading in the developing world, African-led humanitarian action, Gay Pride in Birmingham, Trade Justice for the developing world and for a just settlement of the Palestinian/ Israeli conflict. She is a trustee of Hope Projects (West Midlands) Ltd, Trade Out of Poverty, the Welfare Association, Africa Humanitarian Action, and the Human Trafficking Foundation.




Papers Published in World Economics:


Trade Out of Poverty

Integration into the world economy has proven a powerful means for countries to promote economic growth, development, and poverty reduction, and therefore governments need to have a renewed focus on trade policy towards developing countries to help improve the lives of the world’s poorest. The world’s richest countries should open their markets unconditionally to all Least Developed and low-income countries. The EU and US and other developed countries’ Rules of Origin requirements should be aligned so that developing countries have only one set of rules to adhere to, as the existing complex rules frequently result in countries paying tariffs or being excluded by bureaucracy. Rich countries must end their export and domestic subsidies that undermine the livelihoods of millions. Tariffs between the poorest countries be reduced and customs duties replaced with other sources of revenue. There needs to be a significant increase in emphasis on infrastructure, roads, ports and administrative structures that make trade possible.

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