Exploring the Nexus Between Governance Quality and Export Performance: Evidence from Tanzania in the EAC

Keywords: Governance quality, export performance, East African Community, gravity model

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between Tanzania's governance quality and the performance of its exports to the EAC members. It is grounded in institution theory and transaction economics theory. Using quantitative panel data from Worldwide Governance Indicators and Tanzania's export performance from 1996 to 2023, the Poisson Pseudo-Maximum Likelihood (PPML) estimation method was used for the analysis. The results show that only political stability and regulatory quality are statistically significant and positively affect Tanzania's export performance among the six WGI indices. This implies an improvement in Tanzania's political stability and regulatory quality, substantially improves its export to EAC member states.  Thus, policymakers should maintain a stable and predictable political system and streamline bureaucratic procedures to ensure immediate and tangible results in Tanzania's export volume growth.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Alhassan, A., & Payaslioglu, C. (2020). Institutions and bilateral trade in Africa: an application Poisson's estimation with high-dimensional fixed effects to structural gravity model. Applied Economics Letters, 27(16), 1357–1361. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504851.2019.1682112

Ali, N. A., Bakar, N. A. B. A., & Bakar, N. (2022). Does Governance Wax or Wane the Bilateral Trade of Pakistan? An Application of Gravity Model. International Journal of Professional Business Review, 7(6), e0805. https://doi.org/10.26668/businessreview/2022.v7i6.e805

Bah, M., Atangana Ondoa, H., & Kpognon, K. D. (2021). Effects of governance quality on exports in Sub-Saharan Africa. International Economics, 167, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.INTECO.2021.05.003

Baier, S. L., Kerr, A., & Yotov, Y. V. (2018). Gravity, distance, and international trade. In Handbook of International Trade and Transportation. Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781785366154.00007

Berden, K., Bergstrand, J. H., & van Etten, E. (2014). Governance and Globalisation. The World Economy, 37(3), 353–386. https://doi.org/10.1111/twec.12135

Bouchoucha, N., & Benammou, S. (2020). Does Institutional Quality Matter Foreign Direct Investment? Evidence from African Countries. Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 11(1), 390–404. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-018-0552-y

Coase, R. H. (1937). The Nature of the Firm. Economica, 4(16), 386–405. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0335.1937.tb00002.x

Cuervo-Cazurra, A. (2016). Corruption in international business. Journal of World Business, 51(1), 35–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JWB.2015.08.015

Dankumo, A. M., Ishak, S., Bani, Y., & Hamzah, H. Z. (2020). Relationship Between Governance and Trade: Evidence From Sub-Saharan African Countries. Research in World Economy, 11(6), 139. https://doi.org/10.5430/rwe.v11n6p139

Davis, G. F., & DeWitt, T. (2021). Organization Theory and the Resource-Based View of the Firm: The Great Divide. Journal of Management, 47(7), 1684–1697. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206320982650

De Benedictis, L., & Taglioni, D. (2011). The Gravity Model in International Trade. In The Trade Impact of European Union Preferential Policies (pp. 55–89). Springer Berlin Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-16564-1_4

DiMaggio, P. J., & Powell, W. W. (2000). The iron cage revisited institutional isomorphism and collective rationality in organizational fields. In Economics meets sociology in strategic management (pp. 143–166). Emerald Group Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0742-3322(00)17011-1

Dixit, A. (2009). Governance Institutions and Economic Activity. American Economic Review, 99(1), 5–24. https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.99.1.5

Doh, J. P., Rodriguez, P., Uhlenbruck, K., Collins, J., Eden, L., & Shekshnia, S. (2003). Coping with corruption in foreign markets. Https://Doi.Org/10.5465/Ame.2003.10954775, 17(3), 114–129. https://doi.org/10.5465/AME.2003.10954775

EAC Secretariat. (2021). EAC Common Market Protocol: Overview and Impact. Arusha, Tanzania. https://www.eac.int/common-market

Gammadigbe, V. (2021). Trade Integration in West Africa: Does the Quality of Institutions Matter? Journal of African Trade, 8(1), 65. https://doi.org/10.2991/jat.k.211201.001

Gani, A., & Scrimgeour, F. (2016). New Zealand’s trade with Asia and the role of good governance. International Review of Economics & Finance, 42, 36–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.IREF.2015.10.017

Habiyaremye, A., & Ziesemer, T. H. W. (2012). Export demand elasticities and productivity as determinants of growth: estimates for Mauritius. Applied Economics, 44(9), 1143–1158. https://doi.org/10.1080/00036846.2010.537642

Huyen, N. T. T., Kien, T. N., & Heo, Y. (2017). Institutional Quality Matters: Evidence from Trade Flows of ASEAN-6 Countries. Asian International Studies Review, 18(2), 21–37. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1163/2667078X-01802002

Kaufmann, D., Kraay, A., & Mastruzzi, M. (2003). Governance Matters Iii: Governance Indicators for 1996-2002. https://papers.ssrn.com/abstract=405841

Kaufmann, D., Kraay, A., & Mastruzzi, M. (2004). Governance Matters III: Governance Indicators for 1996, 1998, 2000, and 2002. The World Bank Economic Review, 18(2), 253–287. https://doi.org/10.1093/WBER/LHH041

Kaufmann, D., Kraay, A., & Mastruzzi, M. (2009). Governance Matters VIII: Aggregate and Individual Governance Indicators, 1996-2008. https://papers.ssrn.com/abstract=1424591

Kaufmann, D., Kraay, A., & Mastruzzi, M. (2011). The worldwide governance indicators: Methodology and analytical issues. Hague Journal on the Rule of Law, 3(2), 220–246. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1876404511200046

Ketokivi, M., & Mahoney, J. T. (2020). Transaction Cost Economics As a Theory of Supply Chain Efficiency. Production and Operations Management, 29(4), 1011–1031. https://doi.org/10.1111/poms.13148

Krisztin, T., & Fischer, M. M. (2015). The Gravity Model for International Trade: Specification and Estimation Issues. Spatial Economic Analysis, 10(4), 451–470. https://doi.org/10.1080/17421772.2015.1076575

Lawrence, R. Z. (2000). Regionalism, multilateralism, and deeper integration. Brookings Institution Press. https://books.google.co.tz/books?hl=en&lr=&id=6BjIVcus0ccC&oi=fnd&pg=PA1&dq=Lawrence,+R.+Z.+(2000).+Regionalism,+multilateralism,+and+deeper+integration.+Brookings+Institution+Press.&ots=xsxDfuhZEO&sig=CBwrQEO4B-6vnZ7kRg6DkWHUfOo&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false

Lin, J., Flachsbarth, I., & von Cramon‐Taubadel, S. (2020). The role of institutional quality on the performance in the export of coconut products. Agricultural Economics, 51(2), 237–258. https://doi.org/10.1111/agec.12552

Macher, J. T., & Richman, B. D. (2008). Transaction Cost Economics: An Assessment of Empirical Research in the Social Sciences. Business and Politics, 10(1), 1–63. https://doi.org/10.2202/1469-3569.1210

Marano, V., Tashman, P., & Kostova, T. (2017). Escaping the iron cage: Liabilities of origin and CSR reporting of emerging market multinational enterprises. Journal of International Business Studies, 48(3), 386–408. https://doi.org/10.1057/JIBS.2016.17/TABLES/4

Martin, W., & Pham, C. S. (2020). Estimating the gravity model when zero trade flows are frequent and economically determined. Applied Economics, 52(26), 2766–2779. https://doi.org/10.1080/00036846.2019.1687838

Martínez-Zarzoso, I., & Márquez-Ramos, L. (2019). Exports and governance: Is the Middle East and North Africa region different? The World Economy, 42(1), 143–174. https://doi.org/10.1111/TWEC.12633

Meyer, K. E., Estrin, S., Bhaumik, S. K., & Peng, M. W. (2009). Institutions, resources, and entry strategies in emerging economies. Strategic Management Journal, 30(1), 61–80. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.720

Mnasri, A., & Nechi, S. (2019). New Approach to Estimating Gravity Models with Heteroscedasticity and Zero Trade Values. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3367440

Nguyen, S. T., & Wu, Y. (2020a). Governance and Export Performance in Vietnam. Journal of Southeast Asian Economies, 37(1), 1–25. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26938858

Nguyen, S. T., & Wu, Y. (2020b). Governance and Export Performance in Vietnam. Journal of Southeast Asian Economies, 37(1), 1–25. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26938858

North, D. (1990). Institutions, institutional change and economic performance. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=oFnWbTqgNPYC&oi=fnd&pg=PA10&dq=North,+D.+C.+(1990).+Institutions,+Institutional+Change+and+Economic+Performance.+Cambridge+University+Press.&ots=s-ipLfKiP9&sig=cCyg0mXRbnfcovN3GuxHXKDAHQ4

Ojeaga, P., George, E., Alege, P. O., & Ogundipe, A. (2014). International trade, do institutions matter? Evidence from regional studies. Theoretical Economics Letters, 4, 584–597. https://doi.org/https://ssrn.com/abstract=2478215

Olalekan Oshota, S., Bashir, •, Wahab, A., & Bashir, *. (2022). Institutional Quality and Intra-Regional Trade Flows: Evidence from ECOWAS. Journal of African Trade 2022 9:1, 9(1), 73–106. https://doi.org/10.1007/S44232-022-00005-9

Peng, M. W., Sun, S. L., Pinkham, B., & Chen, H. (2009). The Institution-Based View as a Third Leg for a Strategy Tripod. Academy of Management Perspectives, 23(3), 63–81. https://doi.org/10.5465/amp.2009.43479264

Rodríguez-Pose, A. (2013). Do Institutions Matter for Regional Development? Regional Studies, 47(7), 1034–1047. https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2012.748978

Rodrik, D. (2014). When Ideas Trump Interests: Preferences, Worldviews, and Policy Innovations. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 28(1), 189–208. https://doi.org/10.1257/JEP.28.1.189

Schühly, A., & Tenzer, H. (2017). A Multidimensional Approach to International Market Selection and Nation Branding in Sub-saharan Africa. Africa Journal of Management, 3(3–4), 236–279. https://doi.org/10.1080/23322373.2017.1375812

Scott, w R. (1996). Institutions and Organizations. In Thousands Oaks (Vol. 17, Issue 3). Sage Publications. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/017084069601700309

Scott, W. R. (2008). Institutions and organizations: Ideas and interests. Sage Publications. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/017084069601700309

Scott, W. R. (2013). Institutions and organizations: Ideas, interests, and identities. Sage publications. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/017084069601700309

Soeng, R., & Cuyvers, L. (2018). Domestic institutions and export performance: Evidence for Cambodia. The Journal of International Trade & Economic Development, 27(4), 389–408. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638199.2017.1386230

Verbeke, A., & Kano, L. (2013). The transaction cost economics (TCE) theory of trading favors. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 30(2), 409–431. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10490-012-9324-6

Wassénius, E., Porkka, M., Nyström, M., & Søgaard Jørgensen, P. (2023). A global analysis of potential self-sufficiency and diversity displays diverse supply risks. Global Food Security, 37, 100673. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2023.100673

Williamson, O. E. (1979). Transaction-Cost Economics: The Governance of Contractual Relations. The Journal of Law and Economics, 22(2), 233–261. https://doi.org/10.1086/466942

Williamson, O. E. (1989). Chapter 3 Transaction cost economics (pp. 135–182). https://doi.org/10.1016/S1573-448X(89)01006-X

World Bank. (2024a). World Development Indicators: Trade Indicators. Retrieved from World Bank Data. https://databank.worldbank.org/source/world-development-indicators

World Bank. (2023b). Worldwide Governance Indicators. Retrieved from World Bank Data. https://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/worldwide-governance-indicators

Yushi, J., & Borojo, D. G. (2019). The impacts of institutional quality and infrastructure on overall and intra-Africa trade. Economics, 13(1), 20190010. https://doi.org/10.5018/economics-ejournal.ja.2019-10

Yusuf, H. A., Afolabi, L. O., Shittu, W. O., Gold, K. L., & Muhammad, M. (2021). Institutional Quality and Trade Flow: Empirical Evidence from Malaysia and Other OIC Member Countries in Africa. Insight on Africa, 13(2), 177–191. https://doi.org/10.1177/0975087820987174

Published
2025-06-30
How to Cite
Shio, R. L., Suphian , R., & Masanja, C. (2025). Exploring the Nexus Between Governance Quality and Export Performance: Evidence from Tanzania in the EAC. Advanced Research in Economics and Business Strategy Journal, 6(1), 72-86. https://doi.org/10.52919/arebus.v6i01.74