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Measuring trade integration in Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Antoine Bouet

    (GREThA - Groupe de Recherche en Economie Théorique et Appliquée - UB - Université de Bordeaux - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Lionel Cosnard
  • David Laborde

Abstract

This paper reviews the literature on the measurement and characterization of trade integration in Africa. We offer the complete evaluation of available indicators and methodologies. The indicators include those that have recently emerged from network analysis including indicators of trade in value-added commodities. It is concluded that Africa is characterized by weak trade integration, particularly with the rest of the world. This is naturally explained by high trading costs that are evaluated by tariffs, non-tariff measures, and other trade costs, such as those related to border and documentary compliance. The region's small number of trading partners and low product diversification are also noticeable. However, the use of more refined indicators shows that intra-African trade is relatively high when compared with trade with other continents, contrary to what can be concluded from some simple trade share indicators.

Suggested Citation

  • Antoine Bouet & Lionel Cosnard & David Laborde, 2017. "Measuring trade integration in Africa," Post-Print hal-03122491, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03122491
    DOI: 10.11130/jei.2017.32.4.937
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Antoine Bouët & Aziz Elbehri & Duc Bao Nguyen & Fousseini Traoré, 2022. "Measuring Agricultural Trade Integration in Southeast Asia," Journal of Economic Integration, Center for Economic Integration, Sejong University, vol. 37(2), pages 235-266.
    2. Zouri, Stéphane, 2019. "Business cycles,bilateral trade and international financial intergration : Evidence from Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)," MPRA Paper 98748, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Lukas Kornher & Daniel Sakyi & Linus Linnaeus Tannor, 2025. "“When you need it quick, let us ship it right”: on the importance of port efficiency and service quality to comply with food trade standards in Ghana," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 161(1), pages 231-255, February.
    4. Emiko Fukase & Will Martin, 2016. "Agro-processing and horticultural exports from Africa," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2016-174, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    5. Xiao Wang & Jinming Shi & Jia Li & Yu Chen & Jianxu Liu & Songsak Sriboonchitta, 2023. "Analysis on Trade Competition and Complementarity of High-Quality Agricultural Products in Countries along the Belt and Road Initiative," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-34, April.
    6. Andreas Eberhard-Ruiz & Alexander Moradi, 2018. "Regional Market Integration and City Growth in East Africa: Local but no Regional Effects?," CSAE Working Paper Series 2018-09, Centre for the Study of African Economies, University of Oxford.
    7. Ilaria Fusacchia & Jean Balié & Luca Salvatici, 2022. "The AfCFTA impact on agricultural and food trade: a value added perspective," European Review of Agricultural Economics, Oxford University Press and the European Agricultural and Applied Economics Publications Foundation, vol. 49(1), pages 237-284.
    8. Johnson, Michael E. & Farris, Jarrad & Morgan, Stephen & Bloem, Jeffrey R. & Ajewole, Kayode & Beckman, Jayson, "undated". "Africa's Agricultural Trade: Recent Trends Leading up to the African Continental Free Trade Area," USDA Miscellaneous 333528, United States Department of Agriculture.
    9. Stender, Frederik & Vogel, Tim, 2021. "Murky trade waters: Regional tariff commitments and non-tariff measures in Africa," IDOS Discussion Papers 13/2021, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).
    10. Mamba, Essotanam & Wonyra, Kwami Ossadzifo & Evlo, Kodjo, 2025. "Regional (economic) integration, political stability uncertainty and (intra-African) exports," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 49(2).
    11. Getachew Magnar Kitila & Fuzhong Chen, 2021. "Multilateral Trade Resistance, International Competitiveness and African International Exports: A Network Perspective," International Journal of Science and Business, IJSAB International, vol. 5(10), pages 111-126.
    12. Bouët, Antoine & Laborde, David & Traore, Fousseini, 2021. "On the optimality of Common External Tariffs in Africa: Evidence from the EAC Customs Union," Conference papers 330214, Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project.
    13. Zouri, Stéphane, 2019. "Business cycles,bilateral trade and international financial intergration : Evidence from Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)," MPRA Paper 95275, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    14. Yvonne Umulisa, 2020. "Estimation of the East African Community's trade benefits from promoting intra‐regional trade," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 32(1), pages 55-66, March.

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • F15 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Economic Integration

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