{
  "title": "Is Regional Trade Integration a Growth and Convergence Engine in Africa?",
  "publication": "IMF Working Papers, January 29, 2021",
  "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2021/01/29/is-regional-trade-integration-a-growth-and-convergence-engine-in-africa-50040",
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  "summary": "The main objective of Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) is to stimulate economic growth in participating countries through increased trade, economies of scale, knowledge and technology transfer.",
  "authors": [
    "Vigninou Gammadigbe"
  ],
  "publishDate": "2021-01-29",
  "series": "IMF Working Papers",
  "sections": [
    {
      "heading": "Summary and objective",
      "content": "- Main objective: Assess whether Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) stimulate economic growth in participating countries through increased trade, economies of scale, knowledge and technology transfer.\n- Empirical scope: Panel data over the period 1979 to 2018.\n- Geographic focus: Africa and its major Regional Economic Communities (RECs)."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Methodology",
      "content": "- Empirical approach: Instrumental variable and panel fixed-effects estimation.\n- Data period: 1979 to 2018.\n- Publication format: IMF Working Paper No. 2021/019, Pages: 39, Volume: 2021, Issue: 019.\n- Identifiers: DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781513567716.001; ISBN: 9781513567716; ISSN: 1018-5941; Stock No: WPIEA2021019."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Key findings",
      "content": "- RTI effect on growth:\n  - Regional trade integration (RTI) promotes economic growth in Africa (as shown by instrumental variable and panel fixed-effects estimation).\n- RTI effect on income distribution:\n  - RTI fosters income divergence across countries, reflecting that gains from regional integration accrue in favor of the more developed economies of the continent."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Policy implications and recommendations",
      "content": "- To maximize growth effects of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) for all participating countries, the study highlights the importance of:\n  - Reducing non-tariff barriers to trade.\n  - Improving infrastructure."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Subject tags and keywords (as provided)",
      "content": "- Subject: Economic integration; Personal income; Plurilateral trade; Regional integration; Trade integration.\n- Keywords: Africa; bilateral trade intensity; country pair; economic growth; further trade integration; growth rate; income convergence; trade integration indicator; trade intensity; trade openness; trade openness of the country pair; trade statistics; WP.\n\nVigninou Gammadigbe, \"Is Regional Trade Integration a Growth and Convergence Engine in Africa?\", IMF Working Paper No. 2021/019 (2021).\n\n---\n\n Content in this bundle\n\n- Working Paper\n  - Working Paper (PDF){rel=\"external\" type=\"application/pdf\"}\n\n---\n\nSource: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2021/01/29/is-regional-trade-integration-a-growth-and-convergence-engine-in-africa-50040"
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    "Authors: Vigninou Gammadigbe",
    "Published: January 29, 2021",
    "Series: IMF Working Papers",
    "DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781513567716.001",
    "Main objective: Assess whether Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) stimulate economic growth in participating countries through increased trade, economies of scale, knowledge and technology transfer.",
    "Empirical scope: Panel data over the period 1979 to 2018.",
    "Geographic focus: Africa and its major Regional Economic Communities (RECs).",
    "Empirical approach: Instrumental variable and panel fixed-effects estimation.",
    "Data period: 1979 to 2018.",
    "Publication format: IMF Working Paper No. 2021/019, Pages: 39, Volume: 2021, Issue: 019.",
    "Identifiers: DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781513567716.001; ISBN: 9781513567716; ISSN: 1018-5941; Stock No: WPIEA2021019.",
    "RTI effect on growth:",
    "RTI effect on income distribution:",
    "To maximize growth effects of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) for all participating countries, the study highlights the importance of:",
    "Subject: Economic integration; Personal income; Plurilateral trade; Regional integration; Trade integration.",
    "Keywords: Africa; bilateral trade intensity; country pair; economic growth; further trade integration; growth rate; income convergence; trade integration indicator; trade intensity; trade openness; trade openness of the country pair; trade statistics; WP.",
    "**Working Paper**"
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