| dc.description.abstract | The main purpose of this research was to establish the effect of the effect of non-tariff
barriers on economic performance of comesa countries. The study used qualitative
research design. The sample size of the study constituted nine Comesa countries. Data for
the study was obtained from the IMF Annual country reports for countries involved in the
study. The results from the regression analysis indicated that only 62.14 percent of
variations on economic performance of the countries could be attributed to determinants
such as import licenses, trade quotas, and production subsidies and the remaining portion
being influenced by other factors. This study further revealed that the determinants such
as such as import licenses, trade quotas, and production subsidies were directly related to
the economic performance among Comesa countries as was measured. This implies that
effective management of determinants such as import licenses, trade quotas, and
production subsidies can be implemented to improve levels of economic development.
Multiple correlation analysis was performed with each of the unique models to examine
the significance of relationship amongst the various independent variables and the
dependent variable. All the variables were incorporated in one model, multiple
correlations co-efficient was observed. The raw data obtained from the IMF country
reports under study were analyzed using Ms Excel spreadsheets after which regression
analysis was performed. Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression found that import
licenses had a positive relationship with the economic performance of the various
Comesa countries. The findings from the study confirmed that trade quotas and
productions subsidies had varying degrees of relationship with the economic performance
of the Comesa countries. The study revealed that import licenses positively influenced
economic performance, trade quotas was positively correlated with the economic
performance and Production subsidies negatively influenced the economic performance
of the Comesa countries. This study therefore recommended that the Comesa countries
should handle their import licenses and trade quotas appropriately as the changes in
import licenses and trade quotas affect the economic performance of the Comesa
countries. | en_US |
