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Macroeconomic Shock Synchronization in the East African Community

Author

Listed:
  • Albert Mafusire

    (African Development Bank, Pretoria, South Africa)

  • Zuzana Brixiova

    (African Development Bank, Tunis, Tunisia)

Abstract

The East African Community’s (EAC) economic integration has gained momentum recently, with the EAC countries aiming to adopt a single currency in 2015. This article evaluates empirically the readiness of the EAC countries for monetary union. First, structural similarity in terms of similarity of production and exports of the EAC countries is measured. Second, the symmetry of shocks is examined with structural vector auto-regression analysis (SVAR). The lack of macroeconomic convergence gives evidence against a hurried transition to a monetary union. Given the divergent macroeconomic outcomes, structural reforms, including closing infrastructure gaps and harmonizing macroeconomic policies that would raise synchronization of business cycles, need to be in place before moving to monetary union.

Suggested Citation

  • Albert Mafusire & Zuzana Brixiova, 2013. "Macroeconomic Shock Synchronization in the East African Community," Global Economy Journal (GEJ), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 13(2), pages 261-280, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:wsi:gejxxx:v:13:y:2013:i:02:n:gej-2013-0015
    DOI: 10.1515/GEJ-2013-0015
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Wörgötter, Andreas & Brixiova, Zuzana, 2020. "Monetary Unions of Small Currencies and a Dominating Member: What Policies Work Best for Benefiting from the CMA?," IZA Policy Papers 163, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Zuzana Brixiova & Qingwei Meng & Mthuli Ncube, 2015. "Can Intra-Regional Trade Act as a Global Shock Absorber in Africa?," World Economics, World Economics, 1 Ivory Square, Plantation Wharf, London, United Kingdom, SW11 3UE, vol. 16(3), pages 141-162, July.
    3. Hector Carcel & Luis A. Gil-Alana & Godfrey Madigu, 2015. "Inflation Convergence in the East African Community: A Fractional Integration and Cointegration Study," Global Economy Journal (GEJ), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 15(4), pages 507-524, December.
    4. Guglielmo Maria Caporale & Luis Gil‐Alana, 2020. "Prospects for a Monetary Union in the East Africa Community: Some Empirical Evidence," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 88(2), pages 174-185, June.
    5. Mattera, Raffaele & Franses, Philip Hans, 2023. "Are African business cycles synchronized? Evidence from spatio-temporal modeling," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    6. J. Acalin & B. Cabrillac & G. Dufrénot & L. Jacolin & S. Diop, 2015. "Financial integration and growth correlation in Sub-Saharan Africa," Working papers 561, Banque de France.
    7. Luis Alberiko Gil-Alaña & Borja Balprad & Guglielmo Maria Caporale & Hector Carcel, 2015. "Exchange Rate Dynamics and Monetary Unions in Africa: A Fractional Integration and Cointegration Analysis," NCID Working Papers 11/2015, Navarra Center for International Development, University of Navarra.
    8. Aweng Peter Majok Garang & Hatice Erkekoglu, 2020. "Business Cycles Synchronisation and Symmetries in the Transition to East African Monetary Union," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 88(4), pages 495-517, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    shock synchronization; structural VAR; regional integration; East Africa; E32; F42; C53;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • F42 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - International Policy Coordination and Transmission
    • C53 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Forecasting and Prediction Models; Simulation Methods

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