Practical Tools for Monitoring Convergence, Integration and Development: Compare and Apply

Abstract

It is generally believed that an adequate set of indices can serve as a useful tool for monitoring processes or developments like integration, measuring and comparing performance for policy analysis and evaluation. To this aim, many institutions and especially statistical offices all over the world prepare several hundreds of such indicators to monitor their development targets. Unfortunately, many of them are quite deficient in several aspects. This article introduces indices as practical tools to monitor integration, globalization, and development, and puts its main focus on multidimensionality, feasibility, universality and comparability. This indicator system is easily implemented and applicable worldwide; it applies equally well to North-North, North-South, or South-South agreements. The indices are illustrated by monitoring and comparing the WAEMU (representing South-South areas), the NAFTA (North-South area), the ANZCERTA and the EU-15 (North-North areas). Due to the issue of measurability and as they often are of major interest, special focus is put on economic aspects.

Income Inequality in the South–South Integration

“…• Together with related work, e.g. Sperlich and Sperlich (2011), Sperlich and Sperlich (2012), one can conclude from this study that, contrary to many theoretical studies, there is empirical evidence that the member countries do economically benefit from South-South-RIAs. • Inequality between members is decreasing in almost all RIAs.…”

“…As a consequence, no information is obtained about distribution dynamics within the considered group(s), such as mobility, stratification, and polarization (Quah 1996, 1997, or Durlauf, Johnson, and Temple 2005. Moreover, it is well-known that a main effect of regional integration is its impact on infrastructure and institutions (Sperlich and Sperlich 2012), which in turn have an important impact on development and growth.…”

Historical Ethnic Homelands and Income Convergence in Africa

“…Related literature. Recent country level studies of income convergence in Africa find little evidence of per capita income convergence (see for example Sperlich and Sperlich 2012). We advance this literature by documenting that, using regional-level data, the per capita income distribution across African ethnic homelands exhibits two persistent peaks: one low and one high.…”