ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF REGIONAL TRADE BLOCS IN AFRICA

Despite the spread of trade blocs in Africa, the volume of intra-regional trade remained low. Meanwhile, study on the uneven growth patterns of trade blocs in Africa is scarce. This study analyses the economic performance of regional trade blocs in Africa.The time series data on four trade blocs wer...

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Main Authors: Anu Keshiro Toriola, Ibrahim Abidemi Odusanya, Dideolu Olufelo-Adewale
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pale University of East Sarajevo 2025-06-01
Series:Zbornik Radova Ekonomskog Fakulteta u Istočnom Sarajevu
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Online Access:https://www.zrefis.ekofis.ues.rs.ba/images/zrefis2025-30/33-45_Toriola_Odusanya_Olufelo-Adewale.pdf
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author Anu Keshiro Toriola
Ibrahim Abidemi Odusanya
Dideolu Olufelo-Adewale
author_facet Anu Keshiro Toriola
Ibrahim Abidemi Odusanya
Dideolu Olufelo-Adewale
author_sort Anu Keshiro Toriola
collection DOAJ
description Despite the spread of trade blocs in Africa, the volume of intra-regional trade remained low. Meanwhile, study on the uneven growth patterns of trade blocs in Africa is scarce. This study analyses the economic performance of regional trade blocs in Africa.The time series data on four trade blocs were sourced from United Nations Conference Trade and Development databases from 1995 to 2022. The study employed the Autoregressive Distributed Lag approach.The result shows that while intra trade does not affect economic performance across the trade blocs, extra-trade shows a negative significant effect in Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and a positive effect in Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) in the short run. Although, in the long run, intra-trade does not affect on economic performance across the trade blocs, extra trade show a positive significant effect only in ECCAS. The study submitted that the economic performance of trade blocs in Africa is not uniform, while ECCAS benefited from both intra trade and extra trade, the performance of other trade blocs is not impacted by both component of trade in both the short and long run except in ECOWAS which suffers a negative short run effect of extra trade. Policymakers need to promote intra-regional trade by streamlining customs procedures and fosteringconducive business environment. Also, there is need to explore new markets and trading opportunities both with members and with other trade blocs in Africa. The study contributes to a broader understanding of the differences and similarities in trade effects across different regions.
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spelling doaj-art-c1e5a2e7c0ec40f6bfe1edf9ecb8ed672025-08-20T02:03:26ZengPale University of East SarajevoZbornik Radova Ekonomskog Fakulteta u Istočnom Sarajevu1840-35571986-66902025-06-0130334510.7251/ZREFIS2530033TECONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF REGIONAL TRADE BLOCS IN AFRICAAnu Keshiro Toriola0Ibrahim Abidemi Odusanya1Dideolu Olufelo-Adewale2Department of Economics, Hallmark University, Ijebu-Itele, NigeriaDepartment of Economics, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, NigeriaDepartment of Economics, University of SOAS, London United KingdomDespite the spread of trade blocs in Africa, the volume of intra-regional trade remained low. Meanwhile, study on the uneven growth patterns of trade blocs in Africa is scarce. This study analyses the economic performance of regional trade blocs in Africa.The time series data on four trade blocs were sourced from United Nations Conference Trade and Development databases from 1995 to 2022. The study employed the Autoregressive Distributed Lag approach.The result shows that while intra trade does not affect economic performance across the trade blocs, extra-trade shows a negative significant effect in Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and a positive effect in Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) in the short run. Although, in the long run, intra-trade does not affect on economic performance across the trade blocs, extra trade show a positive significant effect only in ECCAS. The study submitted that the economic performance of trade blocs in Africa is not uniform, while ECCAS benefited from both intra trade and extra trade, the performance of other trade blocs is not impacted by both component of trade in both the short and long run except in ECOWAS which suffers a negative short run effect of extra trade. Policymakers need to promote intra-regional trade by streamlining customs procedures and fosteringconducive business environment. Also, there is need to explore new markets and trading opportunities both with members and with other trade blocs in Africa. The study contributes to a broader understanding of the differences and similarities in trade effects across different regions. https://www.zrefis.ekofis.ues.rs.ba/images/zrefis2025-30/33-45_Toriola_Odusanya_Olufelo-Adewale.pdfeconomic performancetrade blocstrade integrationafricaardl
spellingShingle Anu Keshiro Toriola
Ibrahim Abidemi Odusanya
Dideolu Olufelo-Adewale
ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF REGIONAL TRADE BLOCS IN AFRICA
Zbornik Radova Ekonomskog Fakulteta u Istočnom Sarajevu
economic performance
trade blocs
trade integration
africa
ardl
title ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF REGIONAL TRADE BLOCS IN AFRICA
title_full ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF REGIONAL TRADE BLOCS IN AFRICA
title_fullStr ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF REGIONAL TRADE BLOCS IN AFRICA
title_full_unstemmed ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF REGIONAL TRADE BLOCS IN AFRICA
title_short ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF REGIONAL TRADE BLOCS IN AFRICA
title_sort economic performance of regional trade blocs in africa
topic economic performance
trade blocs
trade integration
africa
ardl
url https://www.zrefis.ekofis.ues.rs.ba/images/zrefis2025-30/33-45_Toriola_Odusanya_Olufelo-Adewale.pdf
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