ABSTRACT
Clarkson first brought the issue of apples and oranges in the context of continental comparisons and argues that although apples and oranges are substantially different, they can both be compared as different fruits. The first reason has to do with the ongoing developments on both sides of the Atlantic relating to regional integration. The second reason for this study of comparative study of continental systems was prompted by general political and economic developments in the 1990s. And final reason for the habitation of comparative study of regional integration agreements relates to the future. Comparing the European Union (EU) and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) might seem an obvious exercise to an academic interested in the integration dynamic, and certainly it can be justified based on Balassa's steps of integration. The chapter also presents an overview on the key concepts discussed in this book.
