Which type of nonstate actor plays a significant role in international economics?

Financial rating firms are a significant type of nonstate actor in international economics because they assess the creditworthiness of governments and corporations, providing essential information that influences investment decisions and financial markets. Their evaluations impact the ability of countries to borrow on international markets and can shift the flow of capital across borders. By issuing ratings, these firms contribute to the understanding of economic stability and risk associated with various actors in the global economy. This can lead to wider economic implications, such as investment trends and national credit ratings, affecting everything from foreign direct investment to the cost of borrowing for countries and companies.

Labor unions, while influential in domestic labor markets, primarily engage in advocacy and negotiations around worker rights rather than directly influencing international economic policies or systems. Non-governmental organizations, although they do focus on various global issues, typically address humanitarian and development concerns rather than economic metrics directly. Similarly, international development agencies work primarily to provide assistance and promote economic development and poverty alleviation rather than functioning as evaluators of creditworthiness as financial rating firms do.