Economic relationships among southern African states

It is widely held that the large majority of African countries are too small in terms of population and purchasing power to allow meaningful and rapid economic development to take place within the constraints of their domestic economies. Sub-regional groupings of states are called for in order to overcome the drawbacks of small size. Many attempt at establishing larger economic unions in Africa have failed. Particular interest therefore attaches to the southern African sub-region where South Africa, as the only industrial power south of the Sahara, functions as a powerhouse for neighbouring as well as more distant economies. The article provides a factual sketch of existing economic ties (infrastructure, trade, labour, tourism, finance and technology). Attention is paid to South Africa's efforts to create a constellation of states, and also to to the counter-measures of nine neighbouring states.