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Is a Free Trade Agreement the Answer for Southern Africa? Insights from Development Economic Theory

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Theory, Change and Southern Africa’s Future

Part of the book series: International Political Economy Series ((IPES))

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Abstract

Since the Second World War, the economies of the world have gradually integrated through increased trade. Over the past 20 years world merchandise exports have risen from 11 to 18 per cent of world GDP. Service exports have risen even faster increasing from 15 per cent of world trade to 22 per cent. Of all the trading on stock markets one in seven sales involve foreigners. These statistics provide a snap shot picture of the degree to which economies around the world have integrated, or to use the catch phrase of the moment the degree of globalization that has occurred.

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Authors
  1. Merle Holden
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Stellenbosch University, South Africa

    Peter Vale (Visiting Professor of International Relations) (Visiting Professor of International Relations)

  2. Department of Political and Administrative Studies, University of Botswana, Botswana

    Larry A. Swatuk (Lecturer) (Lecturer)

  3. Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Sweden

    Bertil Oden (Head of Secretariat of the Expert Group on Development Issues) (Head of Secretariat of the Expert Group on Development Issues)

Copyright information

© 2001 Palgrave Publishers Ltd

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Cite this chapter

Holden, M. (2001). Is a Free Trade Agreement the Answer for Southern Africa? Insights from Development Economic Theory. In: Vale, P., Swatuk, L.A., Oden, B. (eds) Theory, Change and Southern Africa’s Future. International Political Economy Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781403901019_7

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