Exports and imports in Qatar : evidence from cointegration and error correction model

This paper investigates the existence of long-run relationship between exports and imports in Qatar’s economy using Johansen cointegration approach. Qatar is a small open economy that depends on the outside world for exporting its oil, natural gas and its hydrocarbons and to import consumer and capital goods. Exports compose a major proportion of GDP. Annual data for the period from 1980-2011 were used. ADF and Phillip-Perron unit root tests were applied to time series data and variables were found to be integrated of order one. Exports and imports were found to be cointegrated and hence, a long-run relationship exists between exports and imports, and Qatar is not in violation of its international budget constraints. An error correction model was specified and imports were found to Granger cause exports in the long-run.