Economic Integration in the Lower Congo Region : Opening the Kinshasa-Brazzaville Bottleneck

Brulhart, Marius; Hoppe, Mombert

dc.creator	Brulhart, Marius
dc.creator	Hoppe, Mombert
dc.date	2012-03-19T18:06:42Z
dc.date	2012-03-19T18:06:42Z
dc.date	2011-12-01
dc.date.accessioned	2023-02-17T21:01:31Z
dc.date.available	2023-02-17T21:01:31Z
dc.identifier	http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20111212144526
dc.identifier	http://hdl.handle.net/10986/3678
dc.identifier.uri	http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/CUHPOERS/244642
dc.description	This working paper assesses cross-border economic integration in the Lower Congo region. It focuses on the Kinshasa-Brazzaville conurbation, which is projected to become Africa's largest urban area by 2025, and is already serving as the gateway to large hinterlands. Despite their size and proximity, formal economic exchanges between the two cities are extremely limited. The volume of recorded passenger travel between Kinshasa and Brazzaville corresponds to about one-fifth of the volume of traffic between East and West Berlin during the time of the Berlin Wall, and formal trade volumes are derisorily small. As a consequence, the authors find evidence of statistically significant differences in retail prices, indicating unexploited scope for cross-river arbitrage. Through a survey of firms, they find that local traders perceive substantial scope for increasing cross-border economic activity if cross-river trade costs were reduced. Trade in locally produced goods and by small firms would especially benefit from such reductions. Existing high trade costs mainly result from a lack of competition in cross-river transport services, which are dominated by a duopoly of state-controlled operators. High administrative border costs, exacerbated by the presence of multiple government agencies at the border, act as a further obstacle. Liberalization of cross-river transport and customs reform could yield large economic benefits for local producers and consumers.
dc.language	English
dc.relation	Policy Research working paper ; no. WPS 5909
dc.rights	CC BY 3.0 IGO
dc.rights	http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/
dc.rights	World Bank
dc.subject	ACCIDENTS
dc.subject	ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS
dc.subject	ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
dc.subject	AIRPORT
dc.subject	ARBITRAGE
dc.subject	ARTERY
dc.subject	AVERAGE TARIFFS
dc.subject	AVERAGE TRADE
dc.subject	BOND
dc.subject	BORDER CROSSINGS
dc.subject	BORDER TRAFFIC
dc.subject	BRIBERY
dc.subject	BRIDGE
dc.subject	CAPITAL GOODS
dc.subject	CAPITAL STOCK
dc.subject	CAR
dc.subject	CHANGES IN TRADE
dc.subject	CLIENT BASES
dc.subject	COMMON MARKET
dc.subject	COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES
dc.subject	CONCESSIONS
dc.subject	CONFIDENTIALITY
dc.subject	CONSUMER GOODS
dc.subject	CONSUMERS
dc.subject	COST OF TRANSPORT
dc.subject	CROSS-BORDER EXPANSION
dc.subject	CROSS-BORDER TRADE
dc.subject	CROSSING
dc.subject	CUSTOMER SERVICE
dc.subject	CUSTOMS
dc.subject	CUSTOMS ADMINISTRATION
dc.subject	CUSTOMS AUTHORITIES
dc.subject	CUSTOMS DUTIES
dc.subject	CUSTOMS FORMALITIES
dc.subject	CUSTOMS PROCEDURES
dc.subject	CUSTOMS UNION
dc.subject	CUSTOMS UNIONS
dc.subject	DEMOGRAPHIC
dc.subject	DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
dc.subject	DEVELOPMENT POLICY
dc.subject	DIESEL
dc.subject	DIESEL ENGINES
dc.subject	DIVIDENDS
dc.subject	DUOPOLY
dc.subject	ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
dc.subject	ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
dc.subject	ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY
dc.subject	ECONOMIC INTEGRATION
dc.subject	ECONOMIC POLICY
dc.subject	ECONOMIC RELATIONS
dc.subject	ECONOMIC RENTS
dc.subject	ECONOMIC STRUCTURES
dc.subject	ELASTICITIES
dc.subject	ELASTICITY
dc.subject	ELASTICITY OF TRADE
dc.subject	ENTRY POINT
dc.subject	ENTRY POINTS
dc.subject	EUROPEAN UNION
dc.subject	EXCHANGE RATES
dc.subject	EXCISE DUTIES
dc.subject	EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS
dc.subject	EXPANSION OF TRADE
dc.subject	EXPORT OPPORTUNITIES
dc.subject	EXPORT PROCESSING
dc.subject	EXPORT PROCESSING ZONE
dc.subject	EXPORT SECTORS
dc.subject	EXPORTS
dc.subject	EXTERNAL TRADE
dc.subject	FARES
dc.subject	FERRIES
dc.subject	FINANCE CORPORATION
dc.subject	FLAT FARE
dc.subject	FOREIGN EXCHANGE
dc.subject	FOREIGN MARKETS
dc.subject	FRAUD
dc.subject	FREE TRADE
dc.subject	FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS
dc.subject	FREE TRADE AREA
dc.subject	FREIGHT
dc.subject	FREQUENT TRAVELERS
dc.subject	FUEL
dc.subject	FUEL COSTS
dc.subject	GASOLINE
dc.subject	GDP
dc.subject	GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES
dc.subject	GOOD TRANSPORT
dc.subject	GOODS IN TRANSIT
dc.subject	GROWTH RATES
dc.subject	HAULAGE COMPANIES
dc.subject	HIGH TRADE BARRIERS
dc.subject	HIGH TRANSPORT
dc.subject	HOME MARKET
dc.subject	HUMAN CAPITAL
dc.subject	IMPACT OF TRADE
dc.subject	IMPORT COSTS
dc.subject	IMPORT DUTIES
dc.subject	IMPORT PRICES
dc.subject	INCOME
dc.subject	INDIVIDUAL FIRMS
dc.subject	INDIVIDUAL MARKET
dc.subject	INEFFICIENCY
dc.subject	INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING
dc.subject	INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT
dc.subject	INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS
dc.subject	INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
dc.subject	INSPECTION
dc.subject	INSURANCE
dc.subject	INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS
dc.subject	INTERNATIONAL BANK
dc.subject	INTERNATIONAL FINANCE
dc.subject	INTERNATIONAL TRADE
dc.subject	JOURNEY
dc.subject	JOURNEYS
dc.subject	LOCAL CURRENCY
dc.subject	MARGINAL COST
dc.subject	MARGINAL REVENUE
dc.subject	MARKET INEFFICIENCY
dc.subject	MARKET INTEGRATION
dc.subject	MARKET PRICES
dc.subject	MARKET SEGMENTATION
dc.subject	MARKET STRUCTURE
dc.subject	MEASURE OF TRADE
dc.subject	MISMANAGEMENT
dc.subject	MODE OF TRANSPORT
dc.subject	MONOPOLY
dc.subject	NEIGHBORHOODS
dc.subject	PASSENGER TRAFFIC
dc.subject	PASSENGER TRANSPORT
dc.subject	PASSENGER TRAVEL
dc.subject	PASSENGERS
dc.subject	PATTERNS OF TRADE
dc.subject	PAYMENT POINTS
dc.subject	PENSION
dc.subject	PENSION LIABILITIES
dc.subject	PENSIONERS
dc.subject	POLICE
dc.subject	POLICY MAKERS
dc.subject	POLICY RESEARCH
dc.subject	POPULATION DENSITY
dc.subject	PORT AUTHORITY
dc.subject	PORT FACILITIES
dc.subject	PREFERENTIAL TRADE
dc.subject	PREFERENTIAL TRADE AGREEMENT
dc.subject	PRICE DIFFERENTIALS
dc.subject	PRIVATE TRANSPORT
dc.subject	PRIVATIZATION
dc.subject	PRODUCT DIFFERENTIATION
dc.subject	RAIL
dc.subject	RAIL FREIGHT
dc.subject	RAIL LINK
dc.subject	RAILWAY
dc.subject	RAILWAY LINE
dc.subject	RAPID INDUSTRIALIZATION
dc.subject	RED TAPE
dc.subject	REGIONAL AGREEMENTS
dc.subject	REGIONAL INTEGRATION
dc.subject	REGIONAL INTEGRATION AGREEMENTS
dc.subject	REGIONAL TRADE
dc.subject	REGIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS
dc.subject	REGIONALISM
dc.subject	REGRESSION ANALYSIS
dc.subject	REGULATORY BARRIERS
dc.subject	RETAIL MARKETS
dc.subject	ROAD
dc.subject	ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE
dc.subject	ROAD TRANSPORT
dc.subject	ROUTE
dc.subject	ROUTES
dc.subject	SAFETY
dc.subject	SECURITY CONCERNS
dc.subject	SPECIALIZATION
dc.subject	STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
dc.subject	STRICT CONFIDENTIALITY
dc.subject	SUBURBS
dc.subject	TARIFF REVENUE
dc.subject	TARIFF SCHEDULE
dc.subject	TAX
dc.subject	TAX SYSTEM
dc.subject	TRADE BALANCE
dc.subject	TRADE BARRIERS
dc.subject	TRADE COSTS
dc.subject	TRADE DATA
dc.subject	TRADE EXPANSION
dc.subject	TRADE FACILITATION
dc.subject	TRADE FLOWS
dc.subject	TRADE INTEGRATION
dc.subject	TRADE LIBERALIZATION
dc.subject	TRADE ORGANIZATIONS
dc.subject	TRADE POLICY
dc.subject	TRADE VOLUMES
dc.subject	TRADING ACTIVITY
dc.subject	TRAFFIC VOLUMES
dc.subject	TRANSIT
dc.subject	TRANSIT TRADE
dc.subject	TRANSPORT
dc.subject	TRANSPORT COSTS
dc.subject	TRANSPORT FACILITIES
dc.subject	TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE
dc.subject	TRANSPORT MARKET
dc.subject	TRANSPORT OPERATORS
dc.subject	TRANSPORT SERVICES
dc.subject	TRANSPORTS
dc.subject	TRAVELERS
dc.subject	TREATIES
dc.subject	TRIP
dc.subject	TRIPS
dc.subject	TRUCK DELIVERY
dc.subject	TRUE
dc.subject	TURNOVER
dc.subject	URBANIZATION
dc.subject	VALUE ADDED
dc.subject	VEHICLE
dc.subject	VEHICLES
dc.subject	VOLUME OF TRADE
dc.subject	VOLUME OF TRAFFIC
dc.subject	WORLD DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS
dc.title	Economic Integration in the Lower Congo Region : Opening the Kinshasa-Brazzaville Bottleneck
dc.type	Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper
dc.coverage	Congo, Republic of
dc.coverage	Congo, Democratic Republic of