The importance of regional economic integration in Africa

• Main Author: Madyo, Manone Regina
• Other Authors: Akinboade, O. A.
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: Regional economic integration; Free trade agreement; Trade creation; Trade diversion; Customs union; Common external tariffs; Common market; Economic union; Monetary union; Macroeconomic convergence; Regional Economic Community; African Economic Communities; African Union; 337.16; African Economic Community; International economic integration; Free trade > Africa; Customs unions; Monetary unions > Africa; Africa > Economic integration
• Online Access: Madyo, Manone Regina (2009) The importance of regional economic integration in Africa, University of South Africa, Pretoria, <http://hdl.handle.net/10500/2075>; http://hdl.handle.net/10500/2075

Motivation of virtually all regional economic integration (REI) initiatives has been prospect of enhanced economic growth. Although REI's role in contributing to growth and development was recognised and acknowledged, its importance in Africa has never been properly outlined. Theoretical background, economic assumptions and evidence of REI are examined to bring out REI's importance to Africa. Depicting from these, benefits and challenges of REI in Africa are explored. This dissertation analyses the progress, pace, approach, sequence of REI in Africa looking at different variables. Africa's regional integration blueprint and institutional framework are compared to EU's but selected areas are identified as essential for Africa. Progress on REI has been found to be slow. This study concludes that REI should be viewed as one aspect of strategy towards Africa's development and growth. However, the benefits of REI make it imperative for it to remain the central pillar of Africa's development agenda. === Economics === M.Com. (Economics)