Macroeconomic Impact of Trade on Namibian Growth: An Empirical Illustration

The study analyses the role of trade on the economy of Namibia by considering a different specification of the traditional export-growth model. Foreign direct investment is included to capture the potential effect of this variable on growth. Utilising a combination of bivariate and multivariate models, the researcher estimated the relationship between the selected macroeconomic variables used for the study. Macroeconomic data used runs from 1991 to 2001. The results of the study confirm that exports and inward foreign direct investment are critical sources of growth in the Namibian economy. The study concludes by recommending, inter alia, the pursuit of an aggressive and vibrant export industrialization policy for Namibia as well as direction for further research.