Abstract

The objective of this paper is two-fold. On one hand, it seeks to measure the direct effect of cross-border trade on the dynamism of the economies of countries such as Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Morocco and Nigeria from 1971 to 2020. On the other hand, it aims to verify the possibility of establishing a link between the volume of cross-border trade, the dynamics of certain variables (currency, population, income) and the dynamics of growth. The results show that cross-border trade between states in the same zone (ECOWAS) and with different currencies can be beneficial if certain constraints are lifted. Second, the structural variables of income and currency have a positive impact on the ability of cross-border trade to generate more growth, while the population variable has a negative impact on this effect. A series of measures should therefore be adopted in the countries in the sample to enable them to make the most of their participation in international trade.

Key words: Growth, cross-border trade, Sub-Saharan Africa, currency, income, population, ECOWAS.