@techreport{2f9884b862d34fae9e0ac5e5bc0ad360,
title = "Multi-membership and the effectiveness of regional trade agreements in Western and Southern Africa. A comparative study of ECOWAS and SADC",
abstract = "Using a gravity model for 35 countries and the years 1995-2006 we estimate the impact of regional trade agreements in Africa (in particular ECOWAS and SADC) and compare this to the a benchmark of North South trade integration (Europe{\textquoteright}s preferential trade agreement). We find that • ECOWAS and SADC membership significantly increases bilateral trade flows (and by more than for example preferential trade agreements with the EU do), • SADC membership has a stronger impact compared to ECOWAS and • that the impact of multi-membership critically depends on the characteristics of the overlapping RTA. We find a positive impact if an additional membership complements the integration process of the original RTA: overlapping memberships had a significant positive effect on bilateral trade within the ECOWAS bloc but it is insignificant for SADC.",
author = "SK Afesorgbor and {van Bergeijk}, Peter",
note = "ISSN 0921-0210 http://hdl.handle.net/1765/22781",
year = "2011",
language = "English",
series = "ISS working papers series. General series",
publisher = "International Institute of Social Studies (ISS)",
address = "Netherlands",
type = "WorkingPaper",
institution = "International Institute of Social Studies (ISS)",
}