Analysis of tropical sawn-wood supply from Cameroon: uncovering the critical linkages of forest and economic policies
Year: 2019
Type: preprint
Abstract: Diversifying exports is possible avenue for growth in low-income countries.Cameroon is an interesting laboratory to test the challenge of trade policy on processing in African states.This is because of the experience of the country following the 1990 policy shifts to encourage domestic value addition.This research examines the economic determinants of value-added wood exports from Cameroon, and evaluates the role of trade policy in accounting for export volumes from Cameroon; and evaluate which economic factors influence the export of processed or semi-processed wood products from Cameroon.Secondary data obtained from the Ministry of Forestry's Annual Statistical reports (various issues); the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) statistical database; and the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) is employed covering the period 1960-2015.Error Correction Model (ECM) to test the cointegration of timber export value and economic factors revealed that high prices may increase the quantities that would be exported from Cameroon.Similarly, better infrastructure, higher relative demand from Asian countries, and incomes in importing countries may stimulate increased exports.On the contrary, increase in the prices of substitutes, higher exchange rates, higher export taxes, higher domestic consumption levels, and increased illegal exports may have a negative correlation with export receipts.
Language: English
Topic: Global trade and economics
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3000201783