Master's Thesis from the year 2013 in the subject Economics - Case Scenarios, , course: LLM in International Trade, Investment and Business Law in Africa, language: English, abstract: It has been established that African stock markets are confronted with a multitude of problems which include, inadequate liquidity, low capitalisation, few market participants, a small number of listed companies and low trading volumes. As a result, their broader economic impact has so far been limited. The Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) stock markets with the exception of South Africa are small, both in terms of the number of listed companies and market capitalisation, and they display considerable illiquidity. In general, the SADC region has shallow and underdeveloped financial markets. Their development has been hampered by a number of factors which include; political and economic uncertainty, fiscal dominance, weak judicial institutions, limited investment opportunities in the private sector, technological constraints, and the shortage of skilled personnel with expertise in banking and finance. It is contended that all these problems could be eased through regional financial integration. The integration of African stock markets and the introduction of regional stock exchanges will promote cross-border listings and thus stimulate increased liquidity across markets. Thus, it is suggested that the integration of SADC’s stock markets and the creation of a regional stock exchange is one of the panaceas to overcome Africa’s stock market problems. A regional stock exchange has the potential for tremendous benefits for both local and foreign investors, as well as for business enterprises in the region

This book looks at contemporary issues facing financial markets in Southern Africa. It has been established that African stock markets are confronted with a multitude of problems which include inadequate liquidity, low capitalisation, few market participants, a small number of listed companies and low trading volumes. As a result, their broader economic impact has so far been limited. The Southern Africa Development Community (‘SADC’) stock markets, with the exception of South Africa, are small both in terms of the number of listed companies and market capitalisation, and they display considerable illiquidity. In general, the SADC region has shallow and underdeveloped financial markets. Their development has been hampered by a number of factors which include; political and economic uncertainty, fiscal dominance, weak judicial institutions, limited investment opportunities in the private sector, technological constraints, and the shortage of skilled personnel with expertise in banking and finance.

Regional integration and co-ordination are not a panacea but they could hold the key to African countries' long-awaited participation in the world economy. This was one of the conclusions of the second International Forum on African Perspectives ...

The debates over what African economic integration and development actually entails continue across international economic organizations, national governments and NGOs. Despite the glare of media attention and the position this issue has on international political agendas, few comprehensive accounts exist that fully examine why this process will be inevitable in the 21st century and how integration of national economies can be attuned to attaining the socio-economic goals and aspirations of member-countries. This book addresses this problem. It combines theory with application, enumerating the imperatives and initiatives governments will be forced to confront; providing insights for educators and students in African development, for policy makers in African governments, and for inter-governmental organizations.

In the wake of the global financial crisis, there has been a worldwide search for alternative investment opportunities, away from advanced markets. The African continent is now one of the fastest-growing economic regions in the world and represents a viable destination for foreign direct and portfolio investment. This book, which is the first comprehensive analysis of financial integration and regulation in Africa, fills a huge gap in the literature on financial regulation and would constitute an invaluable source of information to policy makers, investors, researchers and students of financial regulation from an emerging and frontier markets perspective. It considers how financial integration can facilitate African financial markets to achieve their full potential and provides a comparative study with the EU framework for financial integration and regulation. It assesses the implementation of effective and regional domestic infrastructures and how these can be adapted to suit the African context. The book also provides an assessment of government policies towards the integration of financial regulation in keeping with the regional agenda of the African Union (AU) and the African Economic Community (AEC).

This timely and authoritative set explores three centuries of good times and hard times in major economies throughout the world. More than 400 signed articles cover events from Tulipmania during the 1630s to the U.S. federal stimulus package of 2009, and introduce readers to underlying concepts, recurring themes, major institutions, and notable figures. Written in a clear, accessible style, "Booms and Busts" provides vital insight and perspective for students, teachers, librarians, and the general public - anyone interested in understanding the historical precedents, causes, and effects of the global economic crisis. Special features include a chronology of major booms and busts through history, a glossary of economic terms, a guide to further research, an appendix of primary documents, a topic finder, and a comprehensive index. It features 1,050 pages; three volumes; 8-1/2" X 11"; topic finder; photos; chronology; glossary; primary documents; bibliography; and, index.