Regional Integration and Services in African Value Chains: Retrospect and Prospect

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Date
2022-07
Authors
Shepherd, Ben
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Publisher
African Economic Research Consortium
Abstract
This paper takes a first step towards understanding the quantitative evidence on the role of commercial services in African value chains. The available data are largely based on assumptions and modelled estimates, but can nonetheless provide some useful information at an aggregate level. In general, services play an important role in the African regional economy, including through their embodiment in the exports of other sectors through input-output relationships. However, services value chains in the region are mostly composed of domestic value-added, and to a lesser extent inputs sourced from global suppliers. There is very little intra-regional sourcing of commercial services inputs. Simulations using a new quantitative trade model show that intra-regional sourcing could be increased through a derived demand effect following goods market liberalization. In the stylized cases examined, increased use of regional services inputs is not at the expense of globally competitive suppliers, although is some variation at a sub-regional level. As such, it will be important to give a more prominent role to services in discussions of regional integration going forward.
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Keywords
Trade in services; Global value chains; New quantitative trade model; Input-output analysis.
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