Macroeconomic Shocks and Trade Flows within Sub-Saharan Africa: Implications for Optimum Currency Arrangements

34 Pages Posted: 15 Feb 2006

See all articles by Tamim Bayoumi

Tamim Bayoumi

International Monetary Fund (IMF); Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

Jonathan D. Ostry

Georgetown University; International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Date Written: December 1995

Abstract

Africa has more countries than any other continent, and hence the largest number of potential monetary and exchange rate arrangements. This paper looks at whether the existing highly fractured monetary arrangements in Sub-Saharan Africa correspond to what might be expected from the theory of optimum currency areas. This is done by analyzing both the size and correlation of real disturbances across countries and the level of intra-regional trade. The results indicate little evidence that Sub-Saharan African countries would benefit in the near future from larger currency unions.

Keywords: Optimum Currency Areas, Sub-Saharan Africa

JEL Classification: F33, F36

Suggested Citation

Bayoumi, Tamim and Ostry, Jonathan D., Macroeconomic Shocks and Trade Flows within Sub-Saharan Africa: Implications for Optimum Currency Arrangements (December 1995). IMF Working Paper No. 95/142, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=883288

Tamim Bayoumi (Contact Author)

International Monetary Fund (IMF) ( email )

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Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

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Jonathan D. Ostry

Georgetown University ( email )

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International Monetary Fund (IMF) ( email )

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Washington, DC 20431
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