The impact of intra- and inter- regional integration on trade flows in Africa
- Authors: Taylor, Nina-Mari
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: International trade Trade blocs Regionalism
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12408 , vital:39260
- Description: Regional integration is regarded as a formation which would allow African countries to improve their trade performance and economic growth. By subscribing to such a regional integration grouping, successful regional trade integration could assist African countries in achieving economies of scale, expand respective domestic markets, reduce marginalisation as well as the collective utilisation and exploitation of resources. Such achievements could, gradually, raise the competitiveness of African countries in respect of the global market. By collaborating in regional integration agreements, groups of countries are sought to increase their collective bargaining power and co-operation amongst the member countries. Regional integration can, therefore, be regarded as a necessary means by which economic development, growth and trade can be enhanced amongst African countries. The associated advantages and benefits of regional integration could improve the productive capacity of African counties and strengthen both their individual and continental position in the process of globalisation and integration into the world economy. This study endeavours to examine the impact of intra-regional integration and inter-regional integration on trade flows among and between: SADC, COMESA, ECOWAS and the EAC. The relevant theoretical and empirical literature regarding regional integration is considered as well as the challenges faced by regional economic communities in Africa. The study is based on an Augmented Gravity Model and it employs Panel Data Estimation Techniques and Panel Unit Root Tests. The Hausman test results proved the Fixed Effects Model to be the most applicable to the study. The empirical findings revealed that both intra-regional integration and inter-regional integration had a positive bearing on trade flows and between: SADC, COMESA, ECOWAS and the EAC. Hence, regional integration is concluded as having a prominent role in promoting trade flows in Africa and the study recommends that African countries and regional economic communities should pursue deeper economic integration and continental integration.
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- Date Issued: 2017
The relationship between exports and economic growth: an empirical case study of the South African automobile industry
- Authors: Taylor, Nina-Mari
- Date: 2012-03
- Subjects: Exports , Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/26313 , vital:65237
- Description: The dissertation investigates the relationship between automobile exports and economic growth in South Africa. Given the amount of investment and government assistance that has gone into assisting and developing the South African automobile industry via the Motor Industry Development Programme, this study examines whether the increase in automobile exports has impacted on economic growth. A demand-side model of the Export-Led Growth hypothesis is estimated in order to analyse the magnitude of the impact of automobile exports on growth. The results of the VECM and Dynamic Granger Causality test reveal that vehicle exports have a long-run positive impact on economic growth and that a uni-directional causal relationship is found to run from vehicle exports to economic growth. Even though vehicle exports are found to have a relatively significant impact on economic growth, domestic demand factors are concluded as being the key contributor of economic growth in South Africa. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2012
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- Date Issued: 2012-03