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Caribbean regionalism and the expectation of increased trade: Insights from a time-series gravity model

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  • Dawn Richards Elliott

Abstract

CARICOM's expectation that integration in the region promises economic gains by providing an avenue for increased regional and extra-regional trade has been criticized by many scholars. These criticisms receive mixed support from a limited sample of cross-sectional analysis with a general focus on the impact of integration on trade flows. Since much of the data in gravity models are time-dependent, and since CARICOM trade is and has been dominated by three nations, Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad/Tobago, I evaluate this expectation using a three dummy gravity model for each nation. The results concur with the descriptive ones; regional integration does not necessarily increase trade flows and may in some cases be associated with a decline. While Caribbean integration has provided numerous non-economic gains, the continued stress on trade is potentially problematic. Trade has had an unfortunate place in policy-making in the region as governments fluctuate between outright rejection to the current state of grudging acceptance of minimally restricted trade. Trade, while positively correlated with growth, is neither inherently good nor bad for developing countries as current debates seem to suggest. Instead, trade offers an opportunity for economic gains that is best realized within an environment that supports skilled resources, sound and credible government institutions, and technological development. Without these fundamentals, the pursuit of economic gains via regional integration will, likely, continue to disappoint.

Suggested Citation

  • Dawn Richards Elliott, 2007. "Caribbean regionalism and the expectation of increased trade: Insights from a time-series gravity model," The Journal of International Trade & Economic Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(1), pages 117-136.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jitecd:v:16:y:2007:i:1:p:117-136
    DOI: 10.1080/09638190601165830
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Juan Carlos Cuestas & Carlyn Dobson, 2011. "Inflation persistence: Implication for a monetary union in the Caribbean," Working Papers 2011017, The University of Sheffield, Department of Economics.
    2. Farha Fatema & Mohammad Monirul Islam, 2020. "Driving Forces of Marine Fisheries and Seafood Export of Bangladesh: Augmented Gravity Model Approach," Asian Journal of Economic Modelling, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 8(2), pages 106-122, June.
    3. Eric Pentecost & Paul Turner, 2010. "Demand and Supply Shocks in the Caribbean Economies: Implications for Monetary Union," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(10), pages 1325-1337, October.
    4. Hajra Manzoor & Parvez Ahmad Mir, 2023. "General Equilibrium Trade Policy Analysis among One Belt One Road Nations Using Structural Gravity Framework," Foreign Trade Review, , vol. 58(4), pages 484-503, November.
    5. Thi Hanh Vu, 2013. "International Export Flows of Vietnam :A Gravity Model Approach," Brussels Economic Review, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles, vol. 56(1), pages 83-108.
    6. Hanh Vu Thi, 2015. "Essays on the Export Performance of Vietnam/Essais sur la Performance à l'Exportation du Vietnam," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/216765, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    7. Juan Carlos Cuestas & Carlyn Ramlogan-Dobson, 2013. "Convergence of Inflationary Shocks: Evidence from the Caribbean," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(9), pages 1229-1243, September.
    8. Tamaş Anca, 2020. "Why should the gravity model be taught in business education?," Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, Sciendo, vol. 14(1), pages 422-433, July.

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