Disentangling regional trade agreements, trade flows and tobacco affordability in sub-Saharan Africa.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:In principle, trade and investment agreements are meant to boost economic growth. However, the removal of trade barriers and the provision of investment incentives to attract foreign direct investments may facilitate increased trade in and/or more efficient production of commodities considered harmful to health such as tobacco. We analyze existing evidence on trade and investment liberalization and its relationship to tobacco trade in Sub-Saharan African countries. METHODS:We compare tobacco trading patterns to foreign direct investments made by tobacco companies. We estimate and compare changes in the Konjunkturforschungsstelle (KOF) Economic Globalization measure, relative price measure and cigarette prices. RESULTS:Preferential regional trade agreements appear to have encoura

SUBMITTER: Appau A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5686832 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature