Topic 17: Economic Integration And Cooperation – Economics Notes Form 6:- Economics Form 5 Topics | Form Five Notes by Tanzania Institute of Education | Economics Notes Form 5 to 6 - For A level | Economics Form Five Notes Za A-level PDF Download
CONCEPT OF ECONOMIC INTEGRATION:
Examples of economic integration are East African community (EAC), European Union (EU), Southern African Development Cooperation (SADC) etc.
FORMS OR TYPES OF ECONOMIC INTEGRATION
Economic integration pas through different stages of development before reaching at the highest/ final stage as follows:-
This is the highest form of economic integration where by member countries agreed to create free movement of goods and services, free movement of factors of production such as land labor, capital and entrepreneurs, formation of common tariffs against non members further more countries agreed to create common polices such as fiscal policies, monetary policy, trade policy and other economic policies within a region. While well developed economic union use same currency in transaction. Example of economic union is European Union which uses euro currency.
THE CONDITIONS NECESSARY FOR SUCCESSFULLY ECONOMIC INTEGRATION
Successfully economic integration is the one which achieve pre determined objectives within a specified period of time /at given on desired resources (cost). The following are necessary factors for successful formation of economic integration.
Countries should be geographically close. This will facilitate transactions and reducing cost of transaction and interaction / meeting.
Production of different commodities facilitate people to sale what they produce and buy what they fail to produce and gain from Trade.
The use of different currencies of low variations in terms of value or similar currency. This will encourage trade and gain in international trade.
Political stability among member. This will encourage production activities and international transactions among member countries.
Countries should have equal level of development. Economic integration of developing countries should formed by countries with equal level of development (developing countries) while developed countries should create integration of developed countries but not mixture of developed and developing countries. This will create equal trade and equal gain.
Countries should have similar goals and determination. This will facilitate member countries to from common strategies and polices of achieving objectives.
Availability of improved economic infrastructure i.e. transports and communication system because improved infrastructure facilitate movement of commodities and people from one country to another.
Similar political and economic ideology i.e. countries should be in same economic system that use common polices and strategies of achieving regional objectives
GENERAL ADVANTAGES/ IMPORTANCE OF AN ECONOMIC INTEGRATION
All economic integration may have the following benefits in general.
DISADVANTAGES OF ECONOMIC INTEGRATION
Most of economic integration formed by developed countries has the following disadvantages in general.
GENERAL PROBLEM FACING MOST OF ECONOMIC INTEGRATION FORMED BY LDC’S
Most of economic integration in developing countries likes EAC, SADC, and ECO WAS, face the following problems:
REGIONAL ECONOMIC INTEGRATION (INTEGRATION BLOCKS)
Most of state worldwide decided to establish and join in the economic grouping for the purpose of enhancing economic cooperation among the member countries, some of grouping have risen and fallen while a number of them survive.
The regional economic integration discussed in these subtopics is:
EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY (EAC)
This is the cooperation/ union of east African countries which has common objectives and self commitment to increase/ Deeping cooperation among member of integration so as to enjoy mutual advantages socially, politically and economically.
East African community is the regional intergovernmental organization of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.
East African community just like other economic integration aimed at increasing collective bargaining in economic, social and political issue and formation of common strategies and polices of achieving common objectives and benefits
BACK GROUND/ HISTORY OF EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY
The east African community (EAC) is the community with long history, the genesis of east African community can be traced back to 1923 when east African governor’s conference formed, and then on 1st January 1948 the east African high commission replaced, the east African governor’s conference. Then after Tanganyika independent on 9th December 1961. The east African service organization (EACSO) was established. These create a foundation of former and current / new east African community.
FORMER EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY
This was economic cooperation of east African countries namely Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. The reality of establishing former east African community signed by president of three east African countries on 6th June 1967 in Kampala Uganda. But communities come into existence effectively on 1st December 1967 as a replacement of eastern African service organization and effective formation of east African common market(EACM), from that day most of function performed by EACSO and employees were taken by EAC. Also Arusha became headquarter of the EAC.
The former east African community were aimed at promoting free trade of commodities, to provide common services, creating free movement of people, increase in extent of market to deep cooperation, making common research and development.
FACTORS/ REASONS FOR DECLINE OF FORMER EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY
The collapse of former east African community is due to the following reasons:
THE NEW EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY
The new East African community is the economic integration of east African countries aimed at creating deep cooperation among East African countries economically, socially and politically. The formation of new East African community started in early 1980’s when member of former east African community meet for division of asset and liabilities of former east African community but the treaty for establishing East African community signed on 30th November 1999 but new East African community started to work effectively on 1st July 2000.
East African community has five member countries namely Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda it his head quarter Arusha, Tanzania.
OBJECTIVES OF NEW EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY
The currently formed East African community has the following objectives.
THE AREAS OF COOPERATION IN THE NEW EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY/ COOPERATION
The current formed East African east cooperation covering the integration and cooperation in the following areas.
Member countries agreed to have common, collective and coordinated policies and approaches of promoting and marketing quality tourism, conservation and utilization of wildlife and tourist center.
Note: the merits demerits and problems facing east African community are similar to those discussed in general in the previous page.
THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY (SADC)
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is an association of Southern Central and some of Eastern African Countries agreed to deep cooperation in all matters relating with development.
SADC formed from experience of political cooperation gained by front line state such as Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe in supporting independence movements. SADC was formed to replace the former Southern African Coordination Conference (SADC) formed 1980 which aimed at helping Southern African countries to become developed and self reliant and reduces dependence on South African and other strong nations.
SADC come into existence on August 1992 with eleven member countries namely Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Zambia and united Republic of South African.
OBJECTIVES OF SADC
To achieve a genuine and equitable economic growth and development, alleviate poverty, enhance standard of living and quality of people’s life of member state
The ultimate objective of SADC, the community is therefore to build a regional cooperation in which there will be a high degree of harmonization and rationalism to enable the pooling of resources to achieve collective self reliance in order to improve the living standard of the people of the region.
PROBLEMS FACING SADC
However, under new restructuring exercise it has become clear that there are a number of problems that inhibit the effect and performance inefficient of the current structure includes:
THE COMMON MARKET FOR EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA (COMESA)
COMESA is the Southern and Eastern African Common Market formed by countries from Southern and East part of African for the aim of creating free movement of goods services and factors of production from one country to another
COMESA started to work on December 1994 as a replacement of former PTA, COMESA has the following members; Angola, Tanzania, Malawi, Lesotho, Mozambique, Zambia, Mauritius, Kenya, Sudan, Comoros, Ethiopia etc.
THE GENESIS/ ORIGIN OF COMESA
The history of COMESA started 21st December 1981 when treaty of establishing preferential trade area (PTA) signed to form an organization of free independent sovereign states which have agreed to cooperate in developing their natural and human resources for the good of all people in member state. Then on 6th November 1993 member of COMESA signed treaty of establishing COMESA which then start to work 1994.
COMESA’S economic history and background. Its main focus on the formation of a large economic and trading unit
That is capable of overcoming some of barriers that are faced by the individual member state.
COMESA’S current strategy can this be summed up in phase economic prosperity through integration with 21st members state.
The COMESA states in implementing a free trade area are well on their way to achieving their large of removing all internal and external barriers and trade tariffs, an exercise which is to be completed by the year 2000. Within 4 years after that COMESA will have all third party trade and will have considerably simplified all procedures.
OBJECTIVES OF COMESA
-Trade liberalization and customs cooperation including the introduction of unified computerized customs networks access a region.
-Improving administration of transport and communication to easy movements of goods, services and people between the countries.
-Creating an enabling environment and legal framework which will lead or encourage the growth of private sectors, the establishment of secure investments environment and adopting common set of standards
-The harmonization of macro economic and monetary policies throughout the region.
-To increase agricultural development/productivity and food security.
-Greater industrial productivity and competitiveness among member state.
-To stimulate strong economic base for a member as steps toward independence of a region.
TANZANIA’S WITHDRAWAL FROM COMESA
Tanzania officially pulled out of COMESA on September 2000, where by Tanzania decision made known to all other members and stakeholder that Tanzania is no longer trade friend on COMESA.
However according to URT Tanzania would continue retaining its position in two region blocks namely PTA bank and reinsurance company (ZEP-RE) simply because this institutions cover even non COMESA member.
The reasons for Tanzania withdrawal from COMESA are followings;
-Failure to realize its goals that is strengthening, developing and positively maintaining social-economic relationship
-Lack of seriousness among members in implementing goals.
-Continuous reduction of tariffs which reduce government revenue.
-Protection of infant domestic production industries and Anti-dumping due to free entrance of cheap and harmful products.
-The problem of membership with other unions i.e. SADC, EAC.
THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY EUROPEAN UNION
European economic community/ European union is an economic integration formed by European countries that agreed to make gradual reduction of tariffs and other barriers and adopting common policies of increasing economic, social and political benefits to member countries.
The European union established in 1957 where by six European countries signed Rome treaty, This form European Economic Community(EEC) popularly known as European Common Market, the six countries signed the treaty include France, Italy, Belgium, the federal republic of Germany, Holland and Luxemburg. It actually comes into existence effectively in January 1958
From date of establishment this integration start to expand and cooperation has gradually been expanded, tariffs and other barriers are gradually re-educated eliminated new policies and strategies formulated while it adapted to new challenges according to what of majority Europeans agreed. Currently European Union has fifteen member state namely France, Italy, Holland, Belgium, West German, Luxemburg, England, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Ireland, Denmark, Australia, Sweden, Finland.
Although European Economic Community started as an economic zone/ community of European countries ( common markets) it adopt gradual improvement up to European union currently and regarded as a unique organization and more than any other international organization it has many committed member and characterized by democratic decision that help to reach at the highest level of economic integration known as economic union by passing through common market, custom union, and monetary union where by member countries agreed to use European currency as a medium of exchange also they formulated a common agricultural policies (CAP), European development bank and other economic and social development policies
OBJECTIVES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (EU)
TANZANIA AND EUROPEAN UNION/ COMMON LINK BETWEEN EUROPEAN UNION DEVELOPING COUNTRIES (LOME CONVENTION)
Tanzania and some of developing countries has a close relation with the European Union through the lame convention.
The Lome convention is series of agreement in trade and economic cooperation between European Union and countries from African pacific and Caribbean (ACPS). Lame convention come into existence in 1975 when EU and 46 ACP’S countries meet and sign first contract of Lome convention affected on 1979 with emphasize on agricultural, energy and other natural resources development. 3rd agreement was signed on 1st April 1985 with emphasize on former agreement.
The 4thlome convention signed in 1990 in Kampala Uganda with emphasize on the increased cooperation between EU and ACP in trade, industries, agricultural.
Also fourth Lome convention emphasis on fighting against HIV/AIDS. However countries are still rigid to allow free trade especially in textiles. Lome convention made ACP countries a right of association status as an indirect member of EU. Through cooperation the ACP states benefited in a field of finance trade and industries.
BASIC PROVISIONS OF THE LOME CONVECTION
Lome conventions involve agreement and cooperation in the following ground.
ADVANTAGES OF THE LOME CONVECTION
The ACP’S countries including Tanzania may enjoy the following advantages
PROBLEMS/CHALLENGES FACING EUROPEAN UNION.
Note: The regional economic integration of developing countries like EAC, SADC, COMESA and ECOWAS has similar advantages and disadvantages to member countries and they face similar challenges (problems) as discussed in general in an introduction part of this topic.
Economic cooperation is the intergovernmental organization which involves many nations that provide platforms to discuss ways of improving development and promote trade and investment opportunities together with the creation of socio economic sustained within a member state.
Regional economic cooperation is an association of cooperation of countries with objectives of creating cooperation in different field socially, economically and politically most of economic cooperation has no deep union and interaction compare to the economic integration.
Regional/ international institution and bodies that unite all or most countries in the world to fulfill certain various functions concerned with international economic relations. These functions may include coordinating common economic policies or maintaining some international economic links.
International economic cooperation does not pre-suppose deep economic and political relationship between countries and their national economic. International organization which characterized international economic cooperation include UN’S specialized agencies and forms such as WTO, UNCTAD, IBRD, IMF and so on
It follows therefore that international economic integration and international economic organization/ cooperation are forms of cooperation they share same advantages that may be obtained through their forums.
However international economic – economic cooperation is more loose cooperation than international economic integration it does not have the disadvantage of the later such as the distribution cost and benefits among member countries and some forms of political and economic sacrifice being necessary for integration but not necessary for cooperation.
INTERNATIONAL BANK FOR RECONS TRACTION AND DEVELOPMENT (IBRD)/ WORLD BANK (WB)
The international bank for reconstruction and development (IBRD) is an international financial institution which offers loans to middle income developing countries, influencing economic activities and graduating poverty. IBRD provides commercial grade or concessional financial to sovereign state to find project, that seek to improve transportation and infrastructure, education, domestic policy, environment consciousness, energy, investment, healthcare, access to food and portable water and improved sanitation.
IBRD/ WB established 1944 following a Briton wood’s conference but began to work effectively 1946; IBRD has over 181 members (188 currently), it owned and governed by member state but has own executive leadership and staffs.
OBJECTIVES/ FUNCTIONS OF IBRD/WB