Determinants of Export Service in Selected West African Countries

Abstract

This study empirically tries to investigate the determinants of export service in selected West African countries (Ghana, Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, Togo, Nigeria and Burkina Faso). The study adopted the export demand function introduced by Bahmani-Oskooee (1986) with little additions and modifications of variables based on the reviewed literature. It was discovered from the empirical results that the value added by the services has no impact on service export. However, variables such as foreign direct investment, communication facilities, real exchange rate, and foreign income level possesses a significant robust impact on export trade in services in the selected countries. These countries should therefore widen their opportunities to strive in exporting services worldwide. This can be materialized by exploiting their potentials with relative competitiveness and reasonable negotiations in the global export markets.