IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/ags/pugtwp/333021.html
   My bibliography  Save this paper

Is Africa an Economic Space?

Author

Listed:
  • Aidara, Khadidiatou
  • Fall, Founty A.
  • Seck, Abdoulaye

Abstract

This paper uses spatial dynamic panel data approach to analyze the extent to which regional integration processes in Africa has been able to generate economically-integrated space in which economic growth in one country spurs economic growth in its trading partners. The results indicate that the continent as a whole is indeed a spatially integrated economic space, although of a weak proportion compared to advanced economies. To the extent that proximity has more to do with bilateral trade than geographical distance, the results also point to a great deal of heterogeneity, as there is a positive growth spillover effect in regional groupings such as SADC, COMESA and ECOWAS, which happen to register larger intra-regional trade shares, but none in ECCAS and AMU. These results are a welcome addition into the debate over the relevance of a continent-wide free trade agreements and how they could foster inclusive and sustainable development for African economies.

Suggested Citation

  • Aidara, Khadidiatou & Fall, Founty A. & Seck, Abdoulaye, 2019. "Is Africa an Economic Space?," Conference papers 333021, Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:pugtwp:333021
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/333021/files/9172.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Robert J. Barro, 1998. "Determinants of Economic Growth: A Cross-Country Empirical Study," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 1, volume 1, number 0262522543, December.
    2. Dion, David-Pascal, 2004. "Regional integration and economic development: An empirical approach," Discussion Paper Series of SFB/TR 15 Governance and the Efficiency of Economic Systems 21, Free University of Berlin, Humboldt University of Berlin, University of Bonn, University of Mannheim, University of Munich.
    3. Cem Ertur & Wilfried Koch, 2007. "Growth, technological interdependence and spatial externalities: theory and evidence," Journal of Applied Econometrics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 22(6), pages 1033-1062.
    4. Michael A. Clemens & Jeffrey G. Williamson, 2004. "Why did the Tariff--Growth Correlation Change after 1950?," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 9(1), pages 5-46, March.
    5. N. Gregory Mankiw & David Romer & David N. Weil, 1992. "A Contribution to the Empirics of Economic Growth," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 107(2), pages 407-437.
    6. Seck, Abdoulaye, 2012. "International technology diffusion and economic growth: Explaining the spillover benefits to developing countries," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 23(4), pages 437-451.
    7. Matthias Busse & Jens Koeniger, 2015. "Trade and economic growth: A re-examination of the empirical evidence," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 35(4), pages 2862-2876.
    8. Wolfgang Keller, 2004. "International Technology Diffusion," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 42(3), pages 752-782, September.
    9. Vamvakidis, Athanasios, 2002. "How Robust Is the Growth-Openness Connection? Historical Evidence," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 7(1), pages 57-80, March.
    10. Edwards, Sebastian, 1998. "Openness, Productivity and Growth: What Do We Really Know?," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 108(447), pages 383-398, March.
    11. Dion, David-Pascal, 2004. "Regional integration and economic development: A theoretical approach," Discussion Paper Series of SFB/TR 15 Governance and the Efficiency of Economic Systems 20, Free University of Berlin, Humboldt University of Berlin, University of Bonn, University of Mannheim, University of Munich.
    12. Cem Ertur & Wilfried Koch, 2011. "A contribution to the theory and empirics of Schumpeterian growth with worldwide interactions," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 215-255, September.
    13. David N. DeJong & Marla Ripoll, 2006. "Tariffs and Growth: An Empirical Exploration of Contingent Relationships," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 88(4), pages 625-640, November.
    14. David Dollar & Aart Kraay, 2004. "Trade, Growth, and Poverty," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 114(493), pages 22-49, February.
    15. Allah Morad Seif & Hossein Panahi & Davoud Hamidi Razi, 2017. "Regional Economic Growth and Spatial Spillover Effects in MENA Area," Iranian Economic Review (IER), Faculty of Economics,University of Tehran.Tehran,Iran, vol. 21(4), pages 765-787, Autumn.
    16. Tao, Ji & Yu, Jihai, 2012. "The spatial time lag in panel data models," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 117(3), pages 544-547.
    17. Nathan Nunn & Daniel Trefler, 2010. "The Structure of Tariffs and Long-Term Growth," American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 2(4), pages 158-194, October.
    18. Vamvakidis, Athanasios, 1998. "Regional Integration and Economic Growth," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 12(2), pages 251-270, May.
    19. Krugman, Paul, 1987. "The narrow moving band, the Dutch disease, and the competitive consequences of Mrs. Thatcher : Notes on trade in the presence of dynamic scale economies," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 27(1-2), pages 41-55, October.
    20. Wang, Wei & Yu, Jihai, 2015. "Estimation of spatial panel data models with time varying spatial weights matrices," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 95-99.
    21. Edwards, Sebastian, 1992. "Trade orientation, distortions and growth in developing countries," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 39(1), pages 31-57, July.
    22. Musila, Jacob W. & Yiheyis, Zelealem, 2015. "The impact of trade openness on growth: The case of Kenya," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 37(2), pages 342-354.
    23. Ho, Chun-Yu & Wang, Wei & Yu, Jihai, 2013. "Growth spillover through trade: A spatial dynamic panel data approach," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 120(3), pages 450-453.
    24. Yu, Huayi, 2012. "The influential factors of China's regional energy intensity and its spatial linkages: 1988–2007," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 583-593.
    25. Dollar, David, 1992. "Outward-Oriented Developing Economies Really Do Grow More Rapidly: Evidence from 95 LDCs, 1976-1985," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 40(3), pages 523-544, April.
    26. Ho, Chun-Yu & Wang, Wei & Yu, Jihai, 2018. "International knowledge spillover through trade: A time-varying spatial panel data approach," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 30-33.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mullings, Robert & Mahabir, Aruneema, 2018. "Growth by Destination: The Role of Trade in Africa’s Recent Growth Episode," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 243-261.
    2. Harrison, Ann & Rodríguez-Clare, Andrés, 2010. "Trade, Foreign Investment, and Industrial Policy for Developing Countries," Handbook of Development Economics, in: Dani Rodrik & Mark Rosenzweig (ed.), Handbook of Development Economics, edition 1, volume 5, chapter 0, pages 4039-4214, Elsevier.
    3. Rao, B. Bhaskara & Vadlamannati, Krishna Chaitanya, 2011. "Globalization and growth in the low income African countries with the extreme bounds analysis," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 28(3), pages 795-805, May.
    4. Nathan Nunn & Daniel Trefler, 2010. "The Structure of Tariffs and Long-Term Growth," American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 2(4), pages 158-194, October.
    5. Tarlok Singh, 2010. "Does International Trade Cause Economic Growth? A Survey," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(11), pages 1517-1564, November.
    6. Lucas Bretschger, 2003. "Growth in a Globalised Economy: The Effects of Capital Taxes and Tax Competition," CER-ETH Economics working paper series 03/24, CER-ETH - Center of Economic Research (CER-ETH) at ETH Zurich.
    7. Dodzin, Sergei & Vamvakidis, Athanasios, 2004. "Trade and industrialization in developing economies," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 75(1), pages 319-328, October.
    8. Tena Junguito, Antonio, 2008. "Bairoch revisited : tariff structure and growth in the late 19th century," IFCS - Working Papers in Economic History.WH wp08-04, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. Instituto Figuerola.
    9. Nathaniel P. S. Cook & Jason C. Jones, 2021. "The African Growth and Opportunity Act and growth in sub‐Saharan Africa: A local projection approach," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(1), pages 234-261, January.
    10. Jieun Lee, 2022. "Evidence and Strategy on Economic Distance in Spatially Augmented Solow-Swan Growth Model," Papers 2209.05562, arXiv.org.
    11. Aribah Aslam, 2020. "The hotly debate of human capital and economic growth: why institutions may matter?," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 54(4), pages 1351-1362, August.
    12. Robert Mullings & Aruneema Mahabir, 2016. "Growth by Destination: The Role of Trade in Africa’s Recent Growth Episode," NBS Discussion Papers in Economics 2016/01, Economics, Nottingham Business School, Nottingham Trent University.
    13. Jieun Lee, 2022. "Testing Endogeneity of Spatial Weights Matrices in Spatial Dynamic Panel Data Models," Papers 2209.05563, arXiv.org.
    14. Oscar Bajo-Rubio, 2022. "Exports and long-run growth: The case of Spain, 1850-2020," Journal of Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(1), pages 1314-1337, December.
    15. Ho, Chun-Yu & Wang, Wei & Yu, Jihai, 2013. "Growth spillover through trade: A spatial dynamic panel data approach," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 120(3), pages 450-453.
    16. Charles Ackah, & Oliver Morrissey, 2007. "Trade Liberalisation is Good for You if You are Rich," Discussion Papers 07/01, University of Nottingham, CREDIT.
    17. Silberberger, Magdalene & Königer, Jens, 2016. "Regulation, trade and economic growth," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 40(2), pages 308-322.
    18. Allah Morad Seif & Hossein Panahi & Davoud Hamidi Razi, 2017. "Regional Economic Growth and Spatial Spillover Effects in MENA Area," Iranian Economic Review (IER), Faculty of Economics,University of Tehran.Tehran,Iran, vol. 21(4), pages 765-787, Autumn.
    19. Yanikkaya, Halit, 2003. "Trade openness and economic growth: a cross-country empirical investigation," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 72(1), pages 57-89, October.
    20. Merve Aksoylar Baysoy & Sumru Altug, 2019. "Growth Spillovers in the MENA Region," Koç University-TUSIAD Economic Research Forum Working Papers 1909, Koc University-TUSIAD Economic Research Forum.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    International Development;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:ags:pugtwp:333021. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: AgEcon Search (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/gtpurus.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.