Can International Trade Help Africa’s Least Developed Countries Achieve SDG-1?

R. Margarita Navarro-Pabsdorf, Concepción Martínez-Alcalá and Encarnación Moral-Pajares
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R. Margarita Navarro-Pabsdorf: Department of International Economy and from Spain, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
Concepción Martínez-Alcalá: Department of Economy, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain
Encarnación Moral-Pajares: Department of Economy, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 11, 1-16

Abstract: In order to reduce poverty and achieve Goal 1 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, countries’ foreign trade flows must be a driving force for productive activity, as proposed by the WTO-led (World Trade Organization) Aid for Trade initiative. This work analyzes the evolution of international trade in goods and services between Africa’s Least Developed Countries and customers and suppliers from other countries between 2005 and 2015, based on the information provided by UNCTAD and the World Bank. The results confirm a greater degree of trade openness and especially an increase in service imports. Overall, the data show that the purchases made in the international market have a greater marginal effect on GDP than sales, leading to the conclusion that changes in trade policy are needed, at both international and national level. Actions should be aimed at ensuring that the growing integration of these economies in the world trade system does not result in continued deficits in the trade balance but, on the contrary, does contribute to GDP growth and poverty reduction.

Keywords: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); Least Developed Countries (LDCs); African countries; international trade (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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