%0 Report
        %A Schwidrowski, Zuzana Brixiova
%A Meng, Qingwei
%A Ncube, Mthuli
        %T Can Intra-Regional Trade Act as a Global Shock Absorber in Africa?
        %D 2015
        %8 2015 Jul
        %I Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
        %C Bonn
        %7 IZA Discussion Paper
        %N 9205
        %U https://www.iza.org/index.php/publications/dp9205
        %X The global financial crisis and the subsequent uneven recovery have underscored the need for Africa's resilience to output and other shocks originated in the rest of the world. A comparison of two regional economic communities – the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU) – suggests that deeper intra-regional, and in particular intra-industry, trade ties have contributed to the EAC's resilience to external output shocks. More broadly, intra-regional and intra-African trade with fast-growing economies, together with geographically diversified trade links, can strengthen the capacity of African countries to absorb global output shocks. Besides helping shield countries from external shocks, intra-regional trade also supports economic diversification and participation in regional value chains.
        %K Africa
%K output co-movement
%K intra-regional trade
%K regional economic communities