Publications /
Policy Brief

Back
Africa-Atlantic Integration: Can the Economy Unite What Geology has Divided?
Authors
Karim EL Mokri
June 21, 2016

The Atlantic basin holds a strategic place in the global economy given the systemic importance that the northern part of the region represents. However, this area remains very heterogeneous with significant differences between the economies within it. The analysis conducted in this policy brief also shows the lack of synchronization of the economic cycle among the countries in the region, and especially the low level of trade and financial integration of the African part of the basin. In addition, we find that African countries continue to suffer from weak integration between them. These factors certainly favor the need for Africa to identify and seize the opportunities provided by the Atlantic area, and especially to accelerate domestic reforms in order to increase their productive capacities, exploit potential intercontinental economic synergies, while paying particular attention to the global economic changes with regard to Asia’s possible role in the coming years.

RELATED CONTENT

  • September 10, 2021
    Le bilan des relations Europe/Méditerranée et Europe/Afrique invite aujourd’hui à un renouveau de ces partenariats. Un renouveau car il y a retrait partiel de l’Europe en ce qui concerne les questions de développement du voisinage Méditerranée-Afrique dans un temps où les partenariats actuels [de Barcelone et celui de Cotonou] s’emboitent dans la logique du commerce (libre-échange) et de l’aide financière. Le renouveau du partenariat Euro-méditerranée-Afrique devrait s’inscrire dans ...
  • Authors
    July 16, 2021
    The BDA Currents: Where Diplomacy Meets Business, is the Brussels Diplomatic Academy’s annual report covering the wider geopolitical and other factors influencing and affecting the world of diplomacy, international relations and global business. The journal focuses on issues of topical interest around the centers of global power, influence and importance, including the continents of Europe and Africa, the Middle East, China, India & Asia, Russia and the Commonwealth of Independe ...
  • July 5, 2017
    The global unemployment rate is expected to remain stable this year at about 5.7 percent and then decline in the coming years. The total number of people unemployed around the globe will remain at about 175 million this year. Unemployment rates are expected to decline in most advanced economies, but expected to be higher this year (compared to last year) in many emerging markets. Venezuela’s unemployment rate is expected to increase by 4 percentage points between 2016 and 2017, with ...
  • Authors
    Karim EL Mokri
    June 21, 2016
    The Atlantic basin holds a strategic place in the global economy given the systemic importance that the northern part of the region represents. However, this area remains very heterogeneous with significant differences between the economies within it. The analysis conducted in this policy brief also shows the lack of synchronization of the economic cycle among the countries in the region, and especially the low level of trade and financial integration of the African part of the basi ...