CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2019
| Author | Kwabo, Michael Patrick Nyema |
|---|---|
| Title | The Impact of Regional Integration in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), 2003 - 2010 |
| Summary | Economic cooperation has long been viewed as key to growth, evidenced by the scores of trade agreements currently in place. There are mixed results on the actual efficacy of these agreements, particularly for small and developing countries such as those within the ECOWAS. This paper considers the body of literature on the growth impact of cooperation through regional trade agreements, assesses two such agreements, and provides an empirical analysis of how trade within the framework of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme has affected growth in participating economies. Using an OLS model, the study finds no growth impact, which largely has to do with limited complementarity in trade flows and the existence of non-tariff barriers resulting mostly from disharmony in regulatory measures. As the ECOWAS continues to push for deeper integration, with the establishment of the Common External Tariff (CET) regime, the paper assesses that harmonization of regulations and increased access to information, common and coherent macroeconomic and structural policies, joint provision of public goods, and tapping into the growing potential of the service sector are key in order to realize and sustain any meaningful impact. |
| Supervisor | None, NA |
| Department | Economics MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2019/kwabo_michael.pdf |
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