Abigail Boadi Adomako

Prof. Francis Enu-Kwesi, Institute for Development Studies, University of Cape Coast

Prof. Dr. Patricia Northover, University of West Indies

Studies on trade and economic performance in Africa

Improving economic growth and more importantly sustaining it has been a major economic goal of all countries. As a result governments in these countries are devising a number of strategies and still in search of other strategies to speed up the process (Barro and Sala-i-Martin, 2004). International trade, which ensures the movement of goods and services as well as production factors across borders, serves as a powerful enabler of economic growth and a necessity for economic development of developing countries (UNCTAD, 2014). However, studies devoted to the direct effect of trade on Africa’s continent economic growth have produced mixed results. The inconclusiveness of empirical evidence has brought the view that the effect of trade on economic growth in the continent may not be direct rather an indirect one (Rodrik, 1998) where trade goes through other channels to fully affect growth. Therefore, this project seeks to examine the link between trade and economic growth in Africa. Notably, some of channels which link trade with economic growth are: (i) trade, foreign direct investment (FDI) and economic performance; (ii) trade, foreign aid and economic performance; (iii) trade, institutions and economic performance; (iv) trade, health status and economic performance; (v) trade, financial development and economic performance; (vi) trade, remittances and economic performance; (vii) trade, regulations and economic performance; (viii) trade, education and economic performance; and (ix) trade, industrialization and economic performance. The study uses cross-sectional secondary dataset of African countries through random sampling from the World Bank’s World Development Indicators (2016). This study plans to employ both descriptive and inferential analysis of quantitative approach like correlational and regression estimation methods. By the end of the project, a causal link and channels of trade to economic growth in Africa will be ascertained. Also the effect of trade openness or trade promotion on economic growth in Africa would be captured. Again, relationship between trade and economic growth in Africa is to be achieved. Consequently, appropriate policy perspective can be generated, accompanied by recommendations for policy implementation.

• 2016: Bachelor of Arts, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana, majored in Economics.
• 2019: Master of Philosophy, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana, majored in Economics with primary focus on Financial, Energy and Monetary Economics.

• November 2018 – October 2020: Road Safety Research Officer for the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) in Kumasi, Ghana.
• August 2016 – October 2017: Teaching Assistant and Assistant Administrator for Department of Economics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Kumasi, Ghana
• I also undertook various internships in both public and private institutionsduring my first degree and masters programmes.

abigailadomako92[at]gmail[dot]com