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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Open Economies Work Better! Did Africa's Protectionist Policies Cause its Marginalization in World Trade?
Authors:Ng, FrancisISNI
Yeats, AlexanderISNI
Year:1997
Periodical:World Development
Volume:25
Issue:6
Period:June
Pages:889-904
Language:English
Geographic term:Subsaharan Africa
Subjects:tariffs
trade policy
international relations
Economics and Trade
Politics and Government
External link:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0305-750X(97)00011-9
Abstract:While the empirical evidence relating to Africa's marginalization in global trade is uncontested, less agreement exists about the responsible factors. This paper argues that sub-Saharan Africa's declining importance in global trade is primarily due to its inability to remain competitive in international markets. Several trade performance indices, such as those relating to changes in a country's competitive position, or to changes in demand for its exports, are employed to assess the impact of 'competition' and 'demand' factors on Africa's trade. A third measure - which relates to export diversification - is analysed to determine if Africa's failure to develop new export products contributed to the region's marginalization in world trade. In order to assess the importance of external markets conditions, statistics relating to OECD tariffs and nontariff barriers facing African exports are compiled and their trade restrictive effects assessed. The study closes with an assessment of the findings and a discussion of policy implications. It shows that import barriers in Africa are higher than in those developing countries that achieved the highest export growth rates, and appear to be biased against potential export products. The region must adopt appropriate trade and structural adjustment policies in order to enhance its international competitiveness. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum.
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