ЭКОНОМИКА РЕГИОНА

Foreign direct investment (FDI) and trade openness serve as macroeconomic indicators that support economic growth. Numerous studies conducted in recent years have empirically demonstrated the significance of FDI and trade liberalisation. Historical data illustrates that Ghana operates as a net importer, posing several challenges for domestic firms due to the comparative advantage of multinational enterprises and economies of scale. However, the full extent of the theories surrounding FDI and trade openness remains incompletely understood across all economies. This study aims to uncover the impact of FDI and foreign trade on economic growth in Ghana. The study utilised time series data sourced from the World Bank spanning from 1985 to 2021, on an annual frequency. The econometric methods employed include a unit root test (ADF), Engle-Granger cointegration test, and multiple regression analysis (Ordinary Least Squares). The ADF unit root test indicated that the variables were non-stationary and integrated at first-order difference. The Engle-Granger cointegration test revealed that the variables are cointegrated. Regression analysis results demonstrated that both FDI and trade openness exert a positive influence on economic enhancement in Ghana, with GDP serving as a proxy for growth. Furthermore, the analysis showed that FDI has a positive impact on GDP per capita, whereas trade openness negatively affects it, utilising GDP per capita as the explained variable. Based on these findings, the study recommends that policymakers implement sound FDI and trade policies to foster economic growth in the country.

This study analyses the effects of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) on the economic growth of its member states based on unbalanced panel datasets. This research was inspired by the ongoing discussions about the development of “free-trade agreements” and the growing anxiety about the US dollar’s stability as a world currency. The latter has recently led to the announcement of the Brazil-Argentina currency union to make bilateral trade easier. As the SACU countries are practically using the South African Rand as a single currency, a growing interest in evaluating the SACU internal trade validity for being the foundation of similar integrative action has started to manifest. The regression results of pooled ordinary least squares (OLS), fixed effects (FE), and random effects (RE) models demonstrate that the economic growth effects of intra-trade (exports, imports) of SACU do not exist. This indicates that further economic integration may not provide positive effects for SACU. However, the most crucial factor to drive the economic growth of SACU turned out to be domestic investment. Attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) also highly contributes to the economic growth of SACU. It is natural and advisable for the member states of SACU to continue the enhancement of investment-conducive environments for domestic and foreign companies. In addition, the long-term fuelling of economic growth with government debt, government spending, and investments points to possible discrepancies in the economic structure of the union, may be connected to internal demand issues. In this sense, it would be reasonable to research the potential of expanding SACU to the countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).