Title: The paradox of regional integration and sustainable development: perspectives from West Africa

Authors: Sodiq Olaiwola Jimoh; Rashidat Sumbola Akande; Hauwah K.K. Abdulkareem

Addresses: Department of Economics and Development Studies, Kwara State University, PMB 1530, 23431, Malete, Kwara State, Nigeria ' Department of Economics and Development Studies, Kwara State University, PMB 1530, 23431, Malete, Kwara State, Nigeria ' Department of Economics and Development Studies, Kwara State University, PMB 1530, 23431, Malete, Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract: Although opportunities abound for the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with regional integration, West Africa has not been able to fully harness the potential gains of regional integration. This study examines the extent to which regional integration drives sustainable development in West African countries from 1980 to 2019. This study specifies a Cobb-Douglas-type production function that expresses output as a function of capital and labour, which is augmented with trade integration. Adopting the dynamic common correlation effects (DCCEs) method as the estimation technique, results show that labour and capital stock have a significant positive impact on sustainable development, while trade integration is found to have a negative impact on sustainable development. Although the result is contrary to expectations, it reflects the current reality of the state of regional trade in the region, as well as the attendant slow progress in the achievement of SDGs.

Keywords: regional integration; sustainable development; Sustainable Development Goals; SDG; African Continental Free Trade Area; AfCFTA; West Africa.

DOI: 10.1504/PIE.2023.135577

Progress in Industrial Ecology, An International Journal, 2023 Vol.16 No.4, pp.213 - 229

Received: 28 Apr 2022
Accepted: 07 Jul 2023
Published online: 18 Dec 2023 *