Regional economic integration and growth of the African Union: evidence from the Multi-dimensional Regional Integration Index

This research investigated the impact of regional trade integration (RTI), regional financial integration (RFI), and multidimensional regional integration (MDRI) on the economic growth of African Union (AU) member countries based on a panel dataset for 2010-2020. The system generalised method of mom...

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Main Authors: Bala, Umar, Abubakar, Muhammad Bello, Yakubu, Yahaya, Adamu, Mohammad, Allayarov, Piratdin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universiti Putra Malaysia 2025
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120965/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120965/1/120965.pdf
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author Bala, Umar
Abubakar, Muhammad Bello
Yakubu, Yahaya
Adamu, Mohammad
Allayarov, Piratdin
author_facet Bala, Umar
Abubakar, Muhammad Bello
Yakubu, Yahaya
Adamu, Mohammad
Allayarov, Piratdin
author_sort Bala, Umar
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description This research investigated the impact of regional trade integration (RTI), regional financial integration (RFI), and multidimensional regional integration (MDRI) on the economic growth of African Union (AU) member countries based on a panel dataset for 2010-2020. The system generalised method of moments (system-GMM) was used. The results revealed that regional trade integration exerted a positive influence, regional financial integration had no significant influence, and multidimensional regional integration had a negative impact on economic growth. Finally, from the evidence of this study, it was observed that the control variables had a stronger impact on trade performance than the regional economic integration variables. The study recommends that if the African Union countries remain committed to advancing regional integration, bolstering regional trade agreements (RTAs) and streamlining cross-border trade for the seamless movement of goods and services, the region can anticipate a tangible elevation in its trade performance.
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spelling upm-1209652025-10-17T01:47:44Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120965/ Regional economic integration and growth of the African Union: evidence from the Multi-dimensional Regional Integration Index Bala, Umar Abubakar, Muhammad Bello Yakubu, Yahaya Adamu, Mohammad Allayarov, Piratdin This research investigated the impact of regional trade integration (RTI), regional financial integration (RFI), and multidimensional regional integration (MDRI) on the economic growth of African Union (AU) member countries based on a panel dataset for 2010-2020. The system generalised method of moments (system-GMM) was used. The results revealed that regional trade integration exerted a positive influence, regional financial integration had no significant influence, and multidimensional regional integration had a negative impact on economic growth. Finally, from the evidence of this study, it was observed that the control variables had a stronger impact on trade performance than the regional economic integration variables. The study recommends that if the African Union countries remain committed to advancing regional integration, bolstering regional trade agreements (RTAs) and streamlining cross-border trade for the seamless movement of goods and services, the region can anticipate a tangible elevation in its trade performance. Universiti Putra Malaysia 2025 Article PeerReviewed text en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120965/1/120965.pdf Bala, Umar and Abubakar, Muhammad Bello and Yakubu, Yahaya and Adamu, Mohammad and Allayarov, Piratdin (2025) Regional economic integration and growth of the African Union: evidence from the Multi-dimensional Regional Integration Index. International Journal of Economics and Management, 19 (2). pp. 199-212. ISSN 1823-836X; eISSN: 2600-9390 http://www.ijem.upm.edu.my/vol19no2/4)%20Regional%20Economic%20Integration.pdf 10.47836/ijeam.19.2.04
spellingShingle Bala, Umar
Abubakar, Muhammad Bello
Yakubu, Yahaya
Adamu, Mohammad
Allayarov, Piratdin
Regional economic integration and growth of the African Union: evidence from the Multi-dimensional Regional Integration Index
title Regional economic integration and growth of the African Union: evidence from the Multi-dimensional Regional Integration Index
title_full Regional economic integration and growth of the African Union: evidence from the Multi-dimensional Regional Integration Index
title_fullStr Regional economic integration and growth of the African Union: evidence from the Multi-dimensional Regional Integration Index
title_full_unstemmed Regional economic integration and growth of the African Union: evidence from the Multi-dimensional Regional Integration Index
title_short Regional economic integration and growth of the African Union: evidence from the Multi-dimensional Regional Integration Index
title_sort regional economic integration and growth of the african union: evidence from the multi-dimensional regional integration index
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120965/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120965/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120965/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120965/1/120965.pdf