While remaining the most isolated region from the global economy, Africa has realized continuous progress towards a closer and more active integration, both from within and beyond the continent’s borders. Today, almost all African economies are members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and gridlocked regional economic integration has recently been given new momentum by the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). At the same time, Africa’s ties with other world regions have intensified, including through the quasi-reciprocal Economic Partnership Agreements with the European Union and China’s increased local engagement in the fields of trade, investment, and economic cooperation.

These developments, however, not only stand against the sobering reality on the ground in many places across African countries, but also lack a profound understanding of their (medium to long-run) implications on trade and welfare. This conference invited researchers working on deepened (formal) economic relationships, both within Africa and with external partners, to present their original research. Submitted papers need to show a clear link to Africa’s regional or global integration efforts and experiences. We welcomed policy-relevant quantitative and qualitative approaches and encourage particularly young researchers and those from the Global South to submit their contributions.

Areas of interest include (but are not limited to) the linkage of Africa’s regional and global integration with:

• Trade, including regional and global value chain (GVC) integration
• Foreign Direct Investment
• Structural transformation & (de-)industrialization
• Digitalization
• Labor market & migration
• Household welfare
• Economic growth & poverty
• Covid-19 recovery
• Climate change & sustainability

Keynote Speakers

• Bernard Hoekman (European University Institute, Florence)
• Dr. Stephen Karingi (Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa)

Special issue

Conference contributions were considered for submission to a Special Issue to appear in the Review of World Economics. The Special Issue has to undergo full peer review under the terms and conditions of the Review of World Economics.

Modalities and submission procedure

The conference was jointly organized by the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) and the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW).

Submissions and related inquiries should be directed exclusively to socioeconomic@idos-research.de. In both cases, please use “Africa Conference 2022” in the subject line.

There are no conference fees. Limited funds for travel and accommodation for participants from the Global South are available. Please indicate in your submission if you wish to apply for funding.