Time: 13:00-15:00 (UK Time), Wednesday, 22 February 2023
Presenters: Dr Lewis Gakpa and Dr Hugues Kouadio, National School of Statistics and Applied Economics (ENSEA), Côte d’Ivoire
Chair: Prof. Victor Murinde, SOAS University of London
Abstract
This paper examines the relationship between financial sector development and intra-African trade. We specify an empirical model that includes financial market development variables, cross-border banking flows and intra-African trade variable. The results show a positive and strongly significant relationship between financial sector development and intra-African trade, in Africa as a whole and among African regions (SADC, COMESA, ECOWAS). Furthermore, the results show that financial sector development affects intra-African trade directly and indirectly through its impact on the agricultural services and industrial sectors. Our results are robust to alternative model specifications.
Presenters
Dr Lewis GAKPA is Lecturer-Researcher at the National School of Statistics and Applied Economics (ENSEA) of Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. He received his PhD in Economics from the University Félix Houphouet Boigny, Côte d’Ivoire. Dr GAKPA has published in many international journals, including Journal of Policy Modeling, African Development Review, International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, and Région et Développement. His research interests focus on Development Economics, Applied Macroeconomics, and Applied Econometrics. He has worked on research projects with the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC).
Dr Hugues KOUADIO is a statistician and economist, Director of the Training Institute of Statistics and Applied Economics, ENSEA (Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Statistique et d'Economie Appliquée, editor’s note), Coordinator of the African Centre of Excellence in Statistical Training, President of AGROST (African Group of Statistical Training), member of various scientific councils including the African Statistics newsletter and the Statistical Journal of the International Association of Official Statistics (IAOS).
He is an expert in economic policy evaluation and specializes in the fields of local economy, agricultural economy, informal economy and labour market. He has coordinated various studies and research in the areas of inequality, sustainability in agricultural economy, transport, employment, women's empowerment and energy.
He holds a PhD in Economics and a Diploma of Advanced Study in Macroeconomics, Modelling and Economic environment from the University of Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne, an Engineering Degree in Statistics and Economics (ISE) from ENSEA as well a Diploma in Public Advanced Management Programme (Public-AMP) from MDE Business School.