Abstract:
This paper examines the impact of trade openness on economic
growth for the SADC region in Africa over the period of 1990 to
2003. Based on a structure consistent with the endogenous
growth theory, we find that trade openness have had a strong
positive impact on economic growth in this region over this
period. Our results are robust across alternative specifications
and methodologies. The study also highlights the role of
education in strengthening the effect of openness on sustainable
growth, via better absorption of knowledge and technological
spillovers from trade liberalization.
