Economics
The Political Economy of Trade Agreements and Domestic Sovereignty
Quick fact
When a country joins a trade agreement, it often must change its own laws to comply, giving up some domestic policy space in exchange for greater market access—a trade-off that can spark significant domestic political opposition, such as the protests against the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).
Why this is interesting
If countries value their independence so much, why do they voluntarily join trade agreements that limit their ability to make their own laws?