Trade and Infrastructure Integration in Africa

Lionel Fontagné, Mathilde Sylvie Maria Lebrand, Siobhan Murray, Michele Ruta and Gianluca Santoni

No 10609, Policy Research Working Paper Series from The World Bank

Abstract: Economic integration of the African continent rests on two pillars: the ratification of an ambitious trade agreement and massive investment in transportation infrastructure. Leveraging a newly created city-level database on African exporters’ transport times, transport route optimization and general equilibrium modeling of international trade, the paper quantifies the impact of greater trade and transport integration in Africa. A pan-African agreement, such as the African Continental Free Trade Area, would increase African countries’ exports by an average of 3.4 percent and increase gross domestic product by 0.6 percent. Complementing trade integration by reducing transportation time on roads, ports and border posts would increase exports by 11.5 percent and increase gross domestic product by 2 percent. Major transport investments are necessary to reap the full benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Date: 2023-11-16
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-int and nep-tre
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Working Paper: Trade and Infrastructure Integration in Africa (2023)
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