Evaluating the Influence of CEFTA Membership on Financial Integration: An Empirical Panel Data Analysis

Abstract

This investigation elucidates the correlation between membership in a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the degree of financial integration among Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) countries. A particular emphasis is placed on discerning whether CEFTA affiliation enhances financial integration. A comprehensive panel data analysis spanning two decades (2000-2020) is implemented, incorporating crosssectional and time-series data. The influence of various determinants on financial integration is quantified through an Estimated Generalized Least Squares (EGLS) panel regression model, integrating panel-corrected standard errors. The findings consistently reveal that CEFTA membership bolsters financial integration. Moreover, the study substantiates that control variables such as inflation rate, market size, and corporate tax rate, incorporated in the regression model, significantly contribute to the variance of financial integration at a minimum 5% significance level. Conversely, trade openness demonstrated a positive, albeit statistically insignificant, effect. Empirical evidence suggests that CEFTA affiliation positively impacts financial integration, underscoring the necessity for more profound regional economic amalgamation. The significance of these findings can be observed in two dimensions: the contribution to existing literature on CEFTA region trade integration, and the broader discourse on financial integration. Insight gleaned from these findings recommends that CEFTA members should intensify mutual trade integration and diminish trade barriers to foster comparative advantages.