Title: The major determinants of the intra-ECOWAS market: do ICTs contribute significantly to the growth of intra-community trade?

Authors: Ferdinand Ouedraogo

Addresses: University Thomas Sankara (former Université Ouaga 2), P.O. Box 2, BP 5953, Ouagadougou 02, Burkina Faso

Abstract: The objective of this study is to identify and analyse the main determinants of intra-ECOWAS trade, to verify whether investments and the rapid penetration of ICT have a positive influence on the growth of intra-ECOWAS trade. Indeed, it emerges from this study that GDP, population and investments in ICT are variables which positively influence both exports and imports. Mobile phone subscriptions and customs duties only have a positive influence on exports. The hypothesis according to which ICT would have a positive influence on the growth of intra-ECOWAS trade is well and truly confirmed. Foreign direct investments do not have a favourable impact on intra-community trade. However, we see that their growth in volume over the last two decades is becoming increasingly important for all 15 ECOWAS countries.

Keywords: ECOWAS bilateral trade performances; major determinants; ICT impact; gravity model analysis.

DOI: 10.1504/AJESD.2024.136073

African Journal of Economic and Sustainable Development, 2024 Vol.9 No.3, pp.239 - 254

Received: 12 Mar 2023
Accepted: 20 Sep 2023
Published online: 15 Jan 2024 *