During the 1980s and early 1990s many Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries undertook reforms to promote financial sector deepening. Nevertheless, financial sectors in SSA countries remain among the shallowest in the world and, within Sub-Saharan Africa, financial depth in the CFA franc zone is...

This paper outlines reforms that have been achieved in the modernization of the customs administrations of francophone sub-Saharan (African) countries since the mid-1990s. It also highlights the remaining issues in this process. Progress has been made in the automation of operations and...

The paper uses a unique database covering 44 countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries between 2000 and 2007 to study the determinants of the allocation and composition of flows across countries, as well as channels through which private capital flows could affect growth. In our sample,...

This paper evaluates the role of trade and financial linkages in the decision to enter a monetary union. We estimate a two-country DSGE model for the U.K. economy and the euro area, and use the model to compute the welfare trade-offs from joining the euro. We evaluate two alternative scenarios....

This paper proposes a quantitative assessment of the welfare effects arising from the Common Monetary Area (CMA) and an array of broader grouping among Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries. Model simulations suggest that (i) participating in the CMA benefits all members; (ii)...

Intro -- Contents -- I. INTRODUCTION -- II. DATA NEEDS OF THE COMMON MARKET AND MONETARY UNION IN THE GCC STATES -- III. THE INSTITUTIONAL SETTING FOR PRODUCING STATISTICS IN GCC COUNTRIES -- IV. THE ROLE OF AFRISTAT -- V. THE ROLE OF EUROSTAT -- VI. KEY LESSONS FOR A FUTURE GULFSTAT -- VII....

Intro -- Contents -- I. INTRODUCTION -- II. ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS AND EXCHANGE RATE POLICY IN THE PACIFIC REGION -- III. COMMON CURRENCY AREAS: EXPERIENCE IN OTHER REGIONS -- IV. ISSUES IN THE CONSIDERATION OF A COMMON CURRENCY AREA IN THE PACIFIC REGION -- V. CONCLUDING REMARKS -- References.