The role of formal institutions in establishing trust and facilitating international trade within the AFCFTA
Notice bibliographique
Résumé
This article investigates the pivotal role of formal institutions in fostering trust and facilitating international trade within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Recognizing that formal institutions such as laws, regulations, and standards are essential in structuring economic interactions and reducing uncertainties, the study delves into how these institutions can enhance predictability and transparency among trading partners. The research begins by establishing a theoretical framework, drawing upon economic theories by North (1991) and Williamson (1985), which highlight how institutions serve as the "rules of the game" and reduce transaction costs. It emphasizes the importance of formal institutions in protecting property rights, enforcing contracts, and resolving disputes, which are critical for the smooth functioning of markets. An overview of the AfCFTA is provided, outlining its objectives of boosting intra-African trade, promoting economic development, and creating a single market for goods and services. The expected benefits include increased trade within Africa, diversification of economies, reduction of dependency on raw material exports, and improved economic resilience to external shocks. The study identifies specific institutional challenges faced by the AfCFTA, including regulatory disparities among member countries, limited institutional capacities, governance issues, and inadequate physical infrastructure. These challenges hinder the harmonization of trade regulations and complicate the implementation of uniform trade policies. To address these challenges, the article conducts a comparative analysis of formal institutions in other successful free trade areas, notably the European Union (EU) and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The comparison reveals best practices such as the importance of supranational authorities (e.g., the European Commission), effective dispute resolution mechanisms, harmonization of norms and standards, and robust governance structures that ensure transparency and inclusiveness. The article further examines the mechanisms through which formal institutions can enhance trust among trading partners within the AfCFTA. By evaluating current institutions and analyzing trust mechanisms, it highlights the need for regulatory transparency, protection of property rights, harmonized certifications and quality standards, and streamlined customs procedures. Case studies of businesses operating within the AfCFTA, such as the Dangote Group, Ethiopian Airlines, and the OCP Group, illustrate both the opportunities presented by the AfCFTA and the challenges posed by weak formal institutions. Based on the findings, the article proposes comprehensive recommendations to strengthen formal institutions within the AfCFTA. These include enhancing legal and regulatory frameworks by harmonizing trade laws and regulations, improving transparency and governance through inclusive decision-making processes and regular publication of regulations, and establishing effective dispute resolution mechanisms such as a regional commercial tribunal and alternative dispute resolution methods. The study underscores the importance of building institutional capacities and investing in infrastructure to fully realize the potential benefits of the AfCFTA. In conclusion, the article emphasizes that the success of the AfCFTA in stimulating economic growth and regional integration in Africa is contingent upon the strengthening of formal institutions. By adopting best practices from other free trade areas and implementing the recommended strategies, AfCFTA member countries can enhance trust among trading partners, reduce risks, and create a conducive environment for sustainable economic development.
Récupéré en direct depuis OpenAlex et désinversé. Les résumés ne sont pas conservés dans cette base de données : les index inversés représentent 8,6 Go des 9,3 Go de texte de la base, et le serveur dispose de 13 Go libres.
Comment cette classification a été obtenuedéplier
Prédiction machine sur la base complète
Imitation des enseignantsNi prévalence calibrée, ni vérité terrain. Validation humaine à venir. Le volet Gemma est une étiquette directe du modèle pour chaque travail de la base, lue sur la notice réduite au titre. Le volet Codex est un classifieur appris des 10 348 étiquettes directes de Codex et calibré sur les taux pondérés de l'échantillon; les champs sans appui suffisant ne portent aucun appel Codex. Le mode candidate est l'union des deux volets; le consensus est leur intersection. Ces sorties portent le statut machine_predicted_unvalidated et ne sont pas des étiquettes humaines.
Scores du classifieur distillé par catégorie (deux têtes)
| Catégorie | Codex | Gemma |
|---|---|---|
| Métarecherche | 0,008 | 0,018 |
| Méta-épidémiologie (sens strict) | 0,000 | 0,000 |
| Méta-épidémiologie (sens large) | 0,000 | 0,000 |
| Bibliométrie | 0,002 | 0,001 |
| Études des sciences et des technologies | 0,006 | 0,009 |
| Communication savante | 0,009 | 0,006 |
| Science ouverte | 0,001 | 0,006 |
| Intégrité de la recherche | 0,002 | 0,002 |
| Charge utile insuffisante (le modèle a refusé de juger) | 0,005 | 0,000 |
Scores machine (provisoires)
Les deux têtes enseignantes du modèle étudiant, lues sur ce travail. Un score ordonne la base pour la relecture; il n'affirme jamais une catégorie, et le statut de validation accompagne chaque rangée tel quel.
Scores de référence d'un modèle non mature (critères de maturité non atteints, 7 itérations). Un score ordonne; il n'affirme jamais une catégorie.
score_only:v0-immature-baseline · tel quel depuis la passe de notation : score_only signifie que le nombre peut ordonner les travaux, et qu'aucune étiquette de catégorie n'en découleClassification
machine, non validéePrédiction automatique; un appel candidat d’une seule source (Gemma direct ou Codex distillé), pas un consensus.
Le détail, modèle par modèle et score par score, se trouve en fin de page sous « Comment cette classification a été obtenue ».