Open AccessBeyond the pandemic: Implications of COVID-19 on regional economic integration in Southern Africa.
Author(s) -
Edwin Yingi
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
international journal of research in business and social science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2147-4478
DOI - 10.20525/ijrbs.v11i2.1661
Subject(s) - economic integration , vulnerability (computing) , regional integration , pandemic , poverty , covid-19 , development economics , economic recovery , economic impact analysis , economics , economic geography , geography , economic growth , international trade , disease , medicine , computer security , pathology , computer science , infectious disease (medical specialty) , keynesian economics , microeconomics
This study examined the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the much sought-after regional economic integration using Southern Africa as a case study. The eruption of COVID-19 stifled world economic activities and unleashed economic uncertainties. First, the disease forced countries into imposing restrictions that included total closure of businesses and borders and travel bans that resulted in reduced economic activity among countries. Second, Africa was expected to suffer economic reverse of between -2% to -5% in 2020 due to a sharp decline in output growth. This has had adverse implications on trade and financial markets across the region and scuppers the ambitions for regional economic integration. Using a desktop approach the study critiqued and analysed the literature on regional integration and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on prospects for enhanced regional economic integration. The findings revealed that COVID-19 plunged the prospects of regional economic integration into disarray. Owing to imposed restrictions business slumped, trade declined, poverty deepened and vulnerability of populations increased cumulatively negating the quest for regional integration. The study concludes that to manage the aftermath of COVID-19, regional economic coordination should be encouraged.