Southern African Economic Integration: Evidence from an Augmented Gravity Model

Moshi Optat Herman, Kirsten Wandschneider, Thierry Warin and Phanindra Wunnava

The African Finance Journal, 2011, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: This paper investigates the feasibility of creating a common-currency union consisting of 16 countries in Southern Africa. We estimate an augmented-gravity model that includes public deficit, public debt, public expenditure, inflation, and the foreign reserves position. We also integrate Africa-specific variables such as existing economic blocs in the region, colonial heritage, and the convergence of living standards. Our analysis shows that the prospect for further integration in Southern Africa is promising, but many challenges still persist. The existing economic blocs can provide a first stepping stone to a larger currency union, but countries continuously have to cultivate good governance and fiscal discipline.

Keywords: optimum currency area; gravity model; Southern African integration; endogenous optimum currency area theory (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F1 F3 F4 O24 O55 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Working Paper: Southern African Economic Integration: Evidence from an Augmented Gravity Model (2009)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:afj:journl:v:13:y:2011:i:1:p:1-13

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