Growth and Convergence in South–South Integration Areas: Empirical Evidence

It is empirically investigated whether South-South-regional integration areas such as the MERCOSUR three world regions in question are considered: Latin America, South-East Asia, and Africa. A comprehensive empirical study is done by different panel data analyses based on data from at least one period before the beginning of the particular formal integration processes. The models and methods applied are derived and discussed in detail. The empirical findings shed some new light on an old discussion: for all regions membership in South-South agreements shows indeed a positive impact on income convergence and growth in most of the considered integration areas.