TY  - RPRT
        AU  - Schwidrowski, Zuzana Brixiova
AU  - Meng, Qingwei
AU  - Ncube, Mthuli
        TI  - Can Intra-Regional Trade Act as a Global Shock Absorber in Africa?
        PY  - 2015/Jul/
        PB  - Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
        CY  - Bonn
        T2  - IZA Discussion Paper
        IS  - 9205
        UR  - https://www.iza.org/index.php/publications/dp9205
        AB  - 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.
        KW  - Africa
KW  - output co-movement
KW  - intra-regional trade
KW  - regional economic communities
        ER  -