Second-hand vehicle markets in West Africa: a source of regional disintegration, trade informality and welfare losses

Ezeoha, A.; Okoyeuzu, C.; Onah, E.; Uche, C.U. (2019)

Article / Letter to editor

This article critiques the second-hand vehicle markets in the West African region, focusing on the triad trading arrangements among Nigeria, Benin, Togo, and Niger. These countries are connected by a number of underlying conflicting interests in the second-hand vehicles trade. Benin and Togo are incentivised by the revenues derived from re-export trade and port operations. Niger provides a proxy market for the illegal re-export of these vehicles to Nigeria, with the latter suffering huge welfare losses as a major consuming nation. We conclude that by offering conflicting benefits to the West African countries, the second-hand vehicle market provides disincentives against true regional integration.

• West Africa
• Benin, Niger
• Nigeria, Togo
• vehicles
• used goods
• informal sector
• trade

• All authors: Ezeoha, A.; Okoyeuzu, C.; Onah, E.; Uche, C.U.
• Date: 2019
• Volume: 61
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 187 - 204
• DOI: doi:10.1080/00076791.2018.1459087