IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/jrpoli/v91y2024ics0301420724002885.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The ugly side of the Africa-UAE (United Arab Emirates) gold trade: Gold export misreporting and smuggling

Author

Listed:
  • Ndoricimpa, Arcade

Abstract

United Arab Emirates (UAE) has become one of the major world's gold hubs and sources most of its gold from Africa. This paper examines the magnitude and patterns of gold export misreporting in the Africa-UAE gold trade. Africa-UAE gold trade is found to be characterized by overwhelming misreporting and smuggling. The most common practice is found to be gold export underreporting. To examine the drivers of gold export misreporting in the Africa-UAE gold trade, a dynamic panel data model was estimated. The estimation results indicate that export tax, the gold price, and institutional factors are the main drivers of gold export misreporting in the Africa-UAE gold trade. The drivers of pure gold smuggling are found to be the gold price and real exchange rate. The results indicate also that both gold export misreporting and smuggling exhibit some persistence behavior. The findings of this study point to improving African countries' institutions to reduce the extent of gold export misreporting in the Africa-UAE trade. Export tax rate can also be reduced to lower the incentives of gold export underreporting. African countries can also work towards harmonizing the regulatory frameworks concerning gold trade, to curb gold smuggling across African countries. UAE has a major role to play in deterring gold smuggling from Africa; export documents and proof of payment of export taxes from the exporting countries, should be required from those hand-carrying gold as they declare their gold to customs officers in Dubai.

Suggested Citation

  • Ndoricimpa, Arcade, 2024. "The ugly side of the Africa-UAE (United Arab Emirates) gold trade: Gold export misreporting and smuggling," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jrpoli:v:91:y:2024:i:c:s0301420724002885
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2024.104921
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301420724002885
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.resourpol.2024.104921?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Berger, Helge & Nitsch, Volker, 2008. "Gotcha! A Profile of Smuggling in International Trade," Conference papers 331735, Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project.
    2. Chinn, Menzie D. & Ito, Hiro, 2006. "What matters for financial development? Capital controls, institutions, and interactions," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 81(1), pages 163-192, October.
    3. Leonce Ndikumana & James Boyce, 2011. "Capital flight from sub-Saharan Africa: linkages with external borrowing and policy options," International Review of Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(2), pages 149-170.
    4. Raymond Fisman & Shang-Jin Wei, 2009. "The Smuggling of Art, and the Art of Smuggling: Uncovering the Illicit Trade in Cultural Property and Antiques," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 1(3), pages 82-96, July.
    5. Stephen R. Bond, 2002. "Dynamic panel data models: a guide to micro data methods and practice," Portuguese Economic Journal, Springer;Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestao, vol. 1(2), pages 141-162, August.
    6. Blundell, Richard & Bond, Stephen, 1998. "Initial conditions and moment restrictions in dynamic panel data models," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 87(1), pages 115-143, August.
    7. Ila Patnaik & Abhijit Sen Gupta & Ajay Shah, 2012. "Determinants of Trade Misinvoicing," Open Economies Review, Springer, vol. 23(5), pages 891-910, November.
    8. Stephen Bond, 2002. "Dynamic panel data models: a guide to microdata methods and practice," CeMMAP working papers 09/02, Institute for Fiscal Studies.
    9. Maria E. de Boyrie & James A. Nelson & Simon J. Pak, 2007. "Capital movement through trade misinvoicing: the case of Africa," Journal of Financial Crime, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 14(4), pages 474-489, October.
    10. Pitt, Mark M., 1984. "Smuggling and the black market for foreign exchange," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 16(3-4), pages 243-257, May.
    11. Stephen Bond, 2002. "Dynamic panel data models: a guide to microdata methods and practice," CeMMAP working papers CWP09/02, Centre for Microdata Methods and Practice, Institute for Fiscal Studies.
    12. Andreas Buehn & Mohammad Reza Farzanegan, 2012. "Smuggling around the world: evidence from a structural equation model," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(23), pages 3047-3064, August.
    13. Catalin Dragomirescu-Gaina & Leandro Elia, 2022. "A look offshore: unpacking the routes of misinvoicing in international trade," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2022-156, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    14. Nickell, Stephen J, 1981. "Biases in Dynamic Models with Fixed Effects," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 49(6), pages 1417-1426, November.
    15. Amit Biswas & Sugata Marjit, 2005. "Mis-invoicing and Trade Policy," Journal of Economic Policy Reform, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 8(3), pages 189-205.
    16. Andreas Buehn & Stefan Eichler, 2011. "Trade Misinvoicing: The Dark Side of World Trade," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(8), pages 1263-1287, August.
    17. Manuel Arellano & Stephen Bond, 1991. "Some Tests of Specification for Panel Data: Monte Carlo Evidence and an Application to Employment Equations," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 58(2), pages 277-297.
    18. Arcade Ndoricimpa, 2018. "Greed of the elite; capital flight from a fragile country: case of Burundi," Journal of Financial Crime, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 25(2), pages 598-618, May.
    19. Léonce Ndikumana & James Boyce, 2010. "Measurement of Capital Flight: Methodology and Results for Sub-Saharan African Countries," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 22(4), pages 471-481.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jamil, Abd Rahim Md. & Law, Siong Hook & Mohamad Khair-Afham, M.S. & Trinugroho, Irwan, 2023. "Financial inclusion and economic uncertainty in developing countries: The role of digitalisation," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 786-806.
    2. Arcade Ndoricimpa & Eduardo Araral, 2024. "Determinants of illicit capital movement in China‐Africa trade: Evidence of trade misinvoicing," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 36(2), pages 334-349, June.
    3. Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm, 2023. "Duration of membership in the world trade organization and investment-oriented remittances inflows," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 258-277.
    4. Sèna Kimm Gnangnon, 2024. "Export product quality and inclusivity in developing countries," Economics of Transition and Institutional Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 32(3), pages 807-843, July.
    5. Sèna Kimm Gnangnon, 2023. "Do unilateral trade preferences help reduce poverty in beneficiary countries?," International Journal of Economic Policy Studies, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 249-288, February.
    6. Ismail M. Cole, 2023. "The political economy triangle of government spending, interest‐group influence, and income inequality: Evidence and implications from the US states," Economics and Politics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(3), pages 1122-1176, November.
    7. Sèna Kimm Gnangnon, 2023. "Effect of the duration of membership in the GATT/WTO on human development in developed and developing countries," Empirica, Springer;Austrian Institute for Economic Research;Austrian Economic Association, vol. 50(4), pages 943-983, November.
    8. Anwar Al-Gasaymeh & Miral R. Samarah, 2023. "Does Country Risk Affect Banking Efficiency: Empirical Evidence from Turkey and Selected Countries from the European Union," Global Business Review, International Management Institute, vol. 24(6), pages 1401-1417, December.
    9. Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm, 2023. "Do Aid for Trade flows affect Technology Licensing in Recipient Countries?," EconStor Preprints 273419, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    10. Mianshan Lai & Jia Hou, 2023. "Let us misinvoice more? The effect of de jure capital controls on trade misinvoicing," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(7), pages 2157-2186, July.
    11. S K Gnangnon, 2024. "Effect of the DFQF Market Access Initiative on Domestic Investment in Least Developed Countries," Economic Issues Journal Articles, Economic Issues, vol. 29(1), pages 133-167, March.
    12. Gnangnon, Sèna Kimm, 2023. "Effect of the Utilization of Non-Reciprocal Trade Preferences on Trade Policy in Beneficiary Countries," EconStor Preprints 279825, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    13. Raja Almarzoqi & Sami Ben Naceur & Akshay Kotak, 2015. "What Matters for Financial Development and Stability?," IMF Working Papers 2015/173, International Monetary Fund.
    14. Hakan Yetkiner & Gamze Öztürk & Bahar Taş, 2024. "Consumption convergence: theory and evidence," Empirica, Springer;Austrian Institute for Economic Research;Austrian Economic Association, vol. 51(3), pages 619-643, August.
    15. Bruno Emmanuel Ongo Nkoa & Cédric Meytang & Thierry Mamadou Asngar & Guivis Zeufack Nkemgha, 2024. "What Drives Life Insurance Development in Sub-Saharan Africa? The Role of Information and Communication Technology," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(2), pages 6878-6907, June.
    16. Eicher, Theo S. & Schreiber, Till, 2010. "Structural policies and growth: Time series evidence from a natural experiment," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 91(1), pages 169-179, January.
    17. Huy Quang Doan, 2019. "Trade, Institutional Quality and Income: Empirical Evidence for Sub-Saharan Africa," Economies, MDPI, vol. 7(2), pages 1-23, May.
    18. Fernando Mayoral & Carlos Garcimartín, 2013. "The impact of population on the reduction of steady-state disparities across Spanish regions," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 50(1), pages 49-69, February.
    19. Falavigna, Greta & Ippoliti, Roberto, 2023. "SMEs’ behavior under financial constraints: An empirical investigation on the legal environment and the substitution effect with tax arrears," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    20. Guerino Ardizzi & Massimiliano Cologgi, 2022. "Business models and pricing strategies in the market for ATM withdrawals," Temi di discussione (Economic working papers) 23, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:jrpoli:v:91:y:2024:i:c:s0301420724002885. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/inca/30467 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.