## Regional Growth Spillovers in Sub-Saharan Africa

_IMF Working Papers, July 24, 2019_

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Regional Growth Spillovers in Sub-Saharan Africa](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2019/07/24/regional-growth-spillovers-in-sub-saharan-africa-47005)

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## Bibliographic details
- Authors: Francisco Arizala, Matthieu Bellon, Margaux MacDonald
- Published: July 24, 2019
- Series: IMF Working Papers
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781498320498.001

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### Authors and Publication
- By Francisco Arizala, Matthieu Bellon, Margaux MacDonald
- July 24, 2019
- IMF Working Papers, Working Paper No. 2019/160
- Pages: 29
- Volume: 2019
- Issue: 160
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781498320498.001
- Stock No: WPIEA2019160
- ISBN: 9781498320498
- ISSN: 1018-5941

### Summary of Findings
- Intraregional trade in sub-Saharan Africa has shown a steady increase since 1980.
- The rise in intraregional trade is linked to important growth spillovers within the region.
- Short-run effects:
  - Positive idiosyncratic shocks to regional trading partners’ growth significantly increase growth in the average sub-Saharan African country.
- Long-run effects:
  - The annual impact of growth in regional trading partners is smaller in magnitude compared with short-run impacts.

### Main Analytical Contributions
- Documents trends in intraregional trade since 1980.
- Links intraregional trade growth to measurable growth spillovers across sub-Saharan African countries.
- Identifies:
  - The main source countries of regional spillovers.
  - Countries most vulnerable to the economic conditions of others.

### Policy Implications and Recommendations
- Support further continent-wide integration to enhance associated growth spillovers.
- Propose actions policymakers in sub-Saharan Africa can take to:
  - Capture the benefits of regional growth spillovers.
  - Limit exposure to associated risks stemming from partner-country shocks.

### Subjects and Keywords
- Subject: Direction of trade, Exports, Financial sector policy and analysis, Imports, International trade, Regional trade, Spillovers
- Keywords: A. Intraregional trade linkage, Africa, Direction of trade, Exports, Global, Growth, IMF staff calculation, Imports, North Africa, real GDP, Regional Integration, Regional trade, Spillovers, statistics database, Sub-Saharan Africa, sub-Saharan Africa country, sub-Saharan Africa real GDP growth, sub-Saharan Africa shock, Sub-Saharan Africa spillover, WP

*Source: IMF Working Papers — "Regional Growth Spillovers in Sub-Saharan Africa" (July 24, 2019) by Francisco Arizala, Matthieu Bellon, Margaux MacDonald.*

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_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2019/07/24/regional-growth-spillovers-in-sub-saharan-africa-47005_