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Has ECOWAS Promoted Trade among Its Members?

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  • Hanink, Dean M
  • Owusu, J Henry

Abstract

This paper reports the results of an examination of the direction of trade within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The examination was conducted in order to determine whether ECOWAS is effective in enlarging trade among its members. Such an effect would indicate that the type of integration efforts that promote trade among industrial countries may also be applicable in less-developed regions. The paper provides an overview of ECOWAS and contains a description of recent directional trade patterns within the region using the trade intensity index (TII). That measure, in turn, is analysed using a spatial interaction model specified as a tobit regression. Our measure of TII indicates that trade flows within the region are strong when considered on a relative basis. However, a comparison of recent trade flows to earlier ones indicates that a very similar pattern of trade flows existed before ECOWAS was formed. Our primary finding, therefore, is that ECOWAS has not been effective in promoting trade among its members. Copyright 1998 by Oxford University Press.

Suggested Citation

  • Hanink, Dean M & Owusu, J Henry, 1998. "Has ECOWAS Promoted Trade among Its Members?," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 7(3), pages 363-383, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:jafrec:v:7:y:1998:i:3:p:363-83
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    1. repec:era:eriabk:2021-impact-of-the-atiga-on-intra-asean-trade is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Agnès Bénassy‐Quéré & Maylis Coupet, 2005. "On the Adequacy of Monetary Arrangements in Sub‐Saharan Africa," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(3), pages 349-373, March.
    3. Norehan Abdullah & Hussin Abdullah & Hadi M. Othman Abuhriba, 2014. "The Determinants of Trade and Trade Direction of Arab Maghreb Union (AMU)," Journal of Empirical Economics, Research Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 2(2), pages 46-62.
    4. Lohi Julie, 2013. "The Implications of HO and IRS Theories in Bilateral Trade Flows within Sub-Saharan Africa," Global Economy Journal, De Gruyter, vol. 13(2), pages 175-202, September.
    5. Langyintuo, Augustine S. & Lowenberg-DeBoer, James & Arndt, Channing, 2003. "Potential Impacts Of The Proposed West African Monetary Zone On Cowpea Trade In West And Central Africa," 2003 Annual meeting, July 27-30, Montreal, Canada 22236, American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association).
    6. FE, Doukouré Charles, 2011. "Qualité des Institutions et Commerce International: Évidence à Partir des Exportations de l'UEMOA [Institutions Quality and International Trade: Evidence from WAEMU Exports]," MPRA Paper 33333, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Seck, Abdoulaye & Cissokho, Lassana & Makpayo, Kossi & Haughton, Jonathan, 2010. "How Important Are Non-Tariff Barriers to Agricultural Trade within ECOWAS?," Working Papers 2010-3, Suffolk University, Department of Economics.
    8. Mancal, A. & Barros, G., 2018. "Determinants of West African international agricultural trade," 2018 Conference, July 28-August 2, 2018, Vancouver, British Columbia 277203, International Association of Agricultural Economists.

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