Given the general analysis presented in the previous absence of a general trend catching up with industrialized countries by the developing countries, those seeking work in particular whether the trade regime plays a role in this phenomenon. The more natural in this context seems taken as explanatory variable the average level of tariffs (the latter being the main form of protection). But this measure is both partial (many forms of trade protection in addition to customs duties and vague (rights “official” Are actually used?)

- First, many non-tariff barriers in addition to customs duties, whether quotas, import licensing, or simply administrative hurdles for discriminate against importers to domestic producers (in the broadest sense, one could absorb subsidies for domestic production as nontariff barriers tariff
- Secondly, there is a large gap in developing countries between bound (which are reported to the WTO and are subject to multilateral commitments) and tariffs (to be decided unilaterally and thus lower construction due to structural adjustment and the existence of trade preferences), the first known with precision while latter are inherently more difficult to assess and aggregate.
- Finally, we measure although the ad valorem (ie calculated based on the value of the product while specific duties (calculated on the basis of the physical quantity of the product such as its volume, weight, etc..) are more difficult to measure since they require conversion money.