Review of the Economic Characteristics of the Arabic Magharib Nations

Abstract:     
The study presents review of the Magharib countries economic bloc which consists of Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia and Mauritania. The feasibility of that economic bloc concludes its potentials. There comparative advantages for each county to integrate with the others in production factors and products, surplus labor in Mauritania and shortages in Libya, surplus agricultural production in Morocco and Tunisia, Morocco and shortages in Mauritania and Libya, energy surplus in Libya and shortages in Mauritania, Tunisia and surplus in Libya. However, the review of the institutional structure of its dynamics reveals that it is politically controlled and it is more or less motivated by individual country impulses. De facto application of trade enhancements and motivation do not exist. Economic boundaries, e.g., trade taxation and tariffs reduce possible exchange without economic sense. I hereby conclude that the main hindrance of potentiating trade and transference, e.g., cross border, tariffs and production factors. Different political regimes seem to be the primary hindrance which reduces chances of economic development. I propose here that such condition cannot support the modus operandi of that economic bloc and that joining the French African Economic Bloc will do better in integrating economies of those West African countries.

Note: Downloadable document is in Arabic.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 11

Keywords: Macroeconomics, Economic Bloc, Arab Magharic, Economic Performance

JEL Classification: A00, A10, B22, C82, D7, D70

working papers series