The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) aims to enhance regional integration through harmonized economic policies and infrastructure development among its member states. However, cross-border informal trade remains a significant challenge to achieving full regional integration in ECOWAS. No empirical results are presented; this commentary draws on existing literature and qualitative analysis focusing on Senegalese perspectives. While regional integration initiatives have improved some aspects of economic cooperation, the persistence of informal cross-border trade underscores the need for concerted policy interventions at both national and regional levels. Senegalese policymakers should advocate for harmonized regulatory frameworks across ECOWAS member states to facilitate smoother cross-border transactions. Additionally, enhanced border management systems are essential to reduce disputes and improve compliance with existing regulations.
Touré et al. (Mon,) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: