Economic Integration in the Maghreb: An Untapped Source of Growth

Author/Editor:

Alexei P Kireyev ; Boaz Nandwa ; Lorraine Ocampos ; Babacar Sarr ; Ramzy Al Amine ; Allan G Auclair ; Yufei Cai ; Jean-Francois Dauphin

Publication Date:

February 13, 2019

Electronic Access:

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Disclaimer: The views expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF, its Executive Board, or IMF management.

Summary:

Individual countries of the Maghreb have achieved substantial progress on trade, but, as a region they remain the least integrated in the world. The share of intraregional trade is less than 5 percent of their total trade, substantially lower than in all other regional trading blocs around the world. Geopolitical considerations and restrictive economic policies have stifled regional integration. Economic policies have been guided by country-level considerations, with little attention to the region, and are not coordinated. Restrictions on trade and capital flows remain substantial and constrain regional integration for the private sector.

Series:

Departmental Paper No. 2019/003

Subject:

English

Publication Date:

February 13, 2019

ISBN/ISSN:

9781484378373/2616-5333

Stock No:

EIMUSGEA

Pages:

47

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