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Regional Financial Integration In Sub-Saharan Africa – An Empirical Examination Of Its Effects On Financial Market Development

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  • LEO FREY
  • ULRICH VOLZ

Abstract

This paper examines the effects of political agreements on regional financial integration (RFI) on financial market development and access to and cost of finance in Sub-Saharan Africa. Our results suggest that RFI positively affects financial development - measured very broadly as the size of the financial sector, including the liabilities of the central banks - when combined with a sufficient level of institutional quality. If institutional quality is below a threshold level, RFI apparently has negative effects on financial development. However, we can find no significant effects of RFI on the size of the private financial sector or on the efficiency of the banking sector. Regarding the effects of RFI on access to and costs of finance of enterprises in SSA, our results are mixed. We can find no significant effect of RFI on access to finance for all firms in the aggregate, but the results indicate that RFI actually impedes small firms' access to finance. Furthermore, there is a significant positive influence of foreign bank involvement on the severity of the credit constraint for small enterprises, while we don't find such an influence for large enterprises. These results provide some support for the foreign bank barrier hypothesis in the context of RFI.
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Suggested Citation

  • Leo Frey & Ulrich Volz, 2013. "Regional Financial Integration In Sub-Saharan Africa – An Empirical Examination Of Its Effects On Financial Market Development," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 81(1), pages 79-117, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:sajeco:v:81:y:2013:i:1:p:79-117
    DOI: 10.1111/saje.2013.81.issue-1
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    Cited by:

    1. Adegbemi Babatunde Onakoya & Adedotun Victor Seyingbo, 2017. "Financial Markets Integration: Appraising the Developed and Emerging Markets Nexus," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 7(3), pages 613-624.
    2. Ibrahim A. Adekunle & Abayomi T. Onanuga & Ibrahim A. Odusanya, 2021. "Financial Integration and Growth Outcomes in Africa: Experience of the Trade Blocs," Research Africa Network Working Papers 21/052, Research Africa Network (RAN).
    3. Moeti Damane & Sin Yu Ho, 2026. "Effects of financial inclusion on financial stability: evidence from SSA countries," International Economics and Economic Policy, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 1-27, May.
    4. Moeti Damane & Sin Yu Ho, 2025. "Effects of financial inclusion of small and medium-sized enterprises on financial stability: evidence from selected sub-Saharan African countries," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 14(1), pages 1-30, December.
    5. Mirdala, Rajmund & Svrčeková, Aneta & Semančíková, Jozefína, 2015. "On the Relationship between Financial Integration, Financial Liberalization and Macroeconomic Volatility," MPRA Paper 66143, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Bonga-Bonga, Lumengo & Mabe, Queen Magadi, 2020. "How financially integrated are trading blocs in Africa?," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 84-94.
    7. Ahmed, Abdullahi D., 2016. "Integration of financial markets, financial development and growth: Is Africa different?," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 43-59.
    8. J. Acalin & Bruno Cabrillac & Gilles Dufrénot & Luc Jacolin & S. Diop, 2015. "Financial integration and growth correlation in Sub-Saharan Africa," Working papers 561, Banque de France.
    9. Ovidiu Stoica & Delia-Elena DiaconaÅŸu, 2012. "Regional Economic Integration And National Financial Supervision. A Comparative Study," Annales Universitatis Apulensis Series Oeconomica, Faculty of Sciences, "1 Decembrie 1918" University, Alba Iulia, vol. 2(14), pages 1-23.
    10. Akech David Akuien, 2023. "The importance of Banking sector in the growth of Nation economy: A case study of Stanbic bank in South Sudan," International Journal of Science and Business, IJSAB International, vol. 28(1), pages 1-20.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • F36 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Financial Aspects of Economic Integration
    • O16 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Financial Markets; Saving and Capital Investment; Corporate Finance and Governance

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