Trade Value Chains Effect of an Integrated Zone on Economic Growth and Food Security

Abstract

This study analyzes the effect of trade value chains in the context of regional integration to speed economic growth and food security. This study examines how such policies in relation with regional integration and trade can improve food security. The study estimates two models with panel fixed effects. The findings support that regional integration needs to strengthen and better promoted in order to stimulate the potential of each country to move from discontinuous to sustained growth. International trade is not the better solution for ECOWAS countries to boost economic growth, but intra-regional trade needs to progressively improve the competitiveness of the economy using the scale effect of global value chains.