Regional integration and economic development: The Case of Southern Africa.
Tjatji, Jappie S.
Tjatji, Jappie S.
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Abstract
The remarkable success of trans-boundary cooperation that occurred in Europe after World War Two served as an inspiration for the emergence of regional integration into the world (Asiwaju, 2007: 97). The 1960s represent the earliest evidence of regional integration in Africa (Uzodike, 2009:26). Regional integration in Africa is widely accepted as a key instrument for economic advancement (a phrase that is used in place of the concept of economic development throughout the dissertation) (Aworaro, 2015:6). The research project had three objectives. Investigating empirically how regional integration influences the economic advancement of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) SADC member nations was the main objective. Testing the hypothesis that regional integration has a beneficial influence on the economic advancement of SADC member nations was the secondary objective. Finding the major hurdles that render regional integration under SADC ineffective towards economic advancement was the study's final objective. The limitation of the study is that it has a small sample size. This study adds to the body of literature on regional integration by investigating the connection between regional integration and economic growth, and more especially the impact of regional integration on economic advancement in SADC. The economic integration theory is the theory that provided guidance in this study, in which analyses made in the research were based on this theory of regional integration. The research methodology used a quantitative research approach, a positivist philosophical paradigm, a longitudinal research design (specifically a time series analysis), and quantitative secondary data (which was analysed using E-views 12). The study’s hypothesis was that SADC member nation’s economic advancement is positively influenced by regional integration. Using the Wald test, the study found this hypothesis to be true. Based on the findings that regional integration leads to economic advancement, the study recommends that SADC member countries need to address blocks to effective regional integration (such as Surrendering sovereignty) in order for SADC member countries to economically benefit from regional integration. This can be accomplished for example, by implementing measures to encourage ceding of sovereignty to a supranational body.
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Submitted to the Faculty of Economics and Finance for the degree master's Dissertation (Master of Economics) In Comparative Local Development in the Faculty of Economics and Finance at the Tshwane University of Technology.
Date
2023-03-01
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Tshwane University of Technology
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Keywords
Regional, Intergration, Econmic, Development, Southern Africa