Trade openness, economic growth and economic development nexus in South Africa: a pre- and post-BRICS analysis

This research analyses the interplay between trade liberalisation, economic growth, and economic development in South Africa. The research focuses on two distinct periods, pre-BRICS (1991 to 2010) and post-BRICS (2011 to 2021) and aims to assess economic growth and development trajectories which are intertwined with liberalisation. A Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) is used to account for potential cointegration among the variables. The study reports a long-run equilibrium relationship among the variables. The study finds that trade openness substantially influences GDP growth in the post-BRICS period and highlights a unidirectional causal relationship between trade liberalisation and economic growth. The research also reveals a positive association between trade openness and economic development, implying that openness fosters growth and facilitates broader development outcomes in South Africa. The research underscores the importance of trade openness as a driving force for economic growth and economic development in emerging economies like South Africa.