Cette recherche contribue à expliquer la compétitivité durable dans une perspective inter-organisationnelle. Elle se fonde sur un cadre conceptuel intégrant les différentes « perspectives basées sur les ressources ». La démarche de nature qualitative repose sur des études de cas multiples auprès de neuf sous traitants tunisiens en habillement. Les résultats obtenus font apparaître d’une part que la compétitivité durable est le fruit de la détention d’un stock des ressources et des compétences. Dans une industrie, comme l’habillement, où la concurrence est rude et les barrières à l’entrée sont faibles, les sources systémiques sont la garantie d’un avantage concurrentiel durable. Il ne s’agit pas de considérer chaque source de manière individuelle et isolée, mais plutôt, c’est la combinaison des sources qui vise à produire un avantage concurrentiel. Toutefois, dans une perspective inter-organisationnelle, les « ressources marginales » et les « market access competencies » sont des sources capitales. D’autre part, le stock des ressources et des compétences est le résultat d’un processus d’apprentissage intra-organisationnel par la pratique. Néanmoins, la culture nationale présente un frein au transfert des sources de l’avantage concurrentiel du donneur vers son sous traitant. / This study tries to understand the sustainable competitive advantage in interorganizational perspective. It is based on a conceptual framework integrating the different «resources-based perspectives». The approach is qualitative; it is based on multiple case studies carried upon nine Tunisian clothing subcontractors. On the one hand, results show that sustainable competitiveness is the result of holding a stock of resources and competencies. In such industry as clothing, where competition is fierce and the barriers to entry are low, the systemic sources are the guarantee of a sustainable competitive advantage. It should not consider each source individually, but rather, it is the combination of sources that creates a competitive advantage. However, in an inter-organizational perspective, the "marginal resources" and "market access competencies" are capitals sources. On the other hand, the stock of resources and competencies is the result of a process of intra-organizational learning by doing. Nevertheless, national culture presents a barrier to the transfer of sources of competitiveness from the prime contractor to the subcontractor.

O estudo busca entender as relações entre os fatores limitantes e impulsionadores enfrentados pelos fornecedores brasileiros de exploração e produção da cadeia de petróleo em relação à competitividade. Para atingir os objetivos propostos, empreendeu-se um estudo de natureza quantitativa, no qual 88 dentre os fornecedores do segmento de exploração e produção, responderam a um questionário online. Os resultados indicam que as empresas competitivas são influenciadas pela capacitação tecnológica e pelas trocas de conhecimento entre fornecedores e clientes. Na amostra estudada, não houve fatores limitantes em relação a competitividade dos fornecedores de exploração e produção. A percepção destes, de modo geral, quanto às especificações técnicas da Petrobras é que existe um custo mais alto no fornecimento dos produtos em razão das customizações solicitadas pela Petrobras, mas, em contrapartida, geram um aumento da qualidade dos produtos. Ao analisar as barreiras de ampliação da capacidade de produção, verificou-se que os fornecedores de exploração e produção não sofrem influência devido às incertezas dos mercados brasileiro e mundial. Assim, as empresas, independente de sua competitividade, não sofrem influência das questões tecnológicas ou demanda, ou falta de força de trabalho qualificada, como barreiras da ampliação da capacidade de produção. / This study seeks to understand the relationship between the limiting and driving factors faced by Brazilian exploration and production suppliers of the oil chain regarding competitiveness. To achieve the proposed objectives a quantitative study was carried out. Eighty-eight suppliers from the exploration and production sector answered an online questionnaire. The findings indicate that competitive companies are influenced by technological training and the exchange of knowledge between suppliers and customers. There were no limiting factors in the sample studied regarding the competitiveness of exploration and production suppliers. The perception of suppliers, in general, regarding Petrobras\' technical specifications is that there is a higher cost to supply products because of the customizations requested by Petrobras, but on the other hand, they generate an increase in product quality. Analyzing the expansion barriers in production capacity, it was found that the E&P suppliers do not suffer influence due to the uncertainties of the Brazilian and global markets. Companies, regardless of their competitiveness, do not suffer influence from technological issues, demand or lack of skilled labor as barriers to the expansion of production capacity.

O estudo busca entender as relações entre os fatores limitantes e impulsionadores enfrentados pelos fornecedores brasileiros de exploração e produção da cadeia de petróleo em relação à competitividade. Para atingir os objetivos propostos, empreendeu-se um estudo de natureza quantitativa, no qual 88 dentre os fornecedores do segmento de exploração e produção, responderam a um questionário online. Os resultados indicam que as empresas competitivas são influenciadas pela capacitação tecnológica e pelas trocas de conhecimento entre fornecedores e clientes. Na amostra estudada, não houve fatores limitantes em relação a competitividade dos fornecedores de exploração e produção. A percepção destes, de modo geral, quanto às especificações técnicas da Petrobras é que existe um custo mais alto no fornecimento dos produtos em razão das customizações solicitadas pela Petrobras, mas, em contrapartida, geram um aumento da qualidade dos produtos. Ao analisar as barreiras de ampliação da capacidade de produção, verificou-se que os fornecedores de exploração e produção não sofrem influência devido às incertezas dos mercados brasileiro e mundial. Assim, as empresas, independente de sua competitividade, não sofrem influência das questões tecnológicas ou demanda, ou falta de força de trabalho qualificada, como barreiras da ampliação da capacidade de produção. / This study seeks to understand the relationship between the limiting and driving factors faced by Brazilian exploration and production suppliers of the oil chain regarding competitiveness. To achieve the proposed objectives a quantitative study was carried out. Eighty-eight suppliers from the exploration and production sector answered an online questionnaire. The findings indicate that competitive companies are influenced by technological training and the exchange of knowledge between suppliers and customers. There were no limiting factors in the sample studied regarding the competitiveness of exploration and production suppliers. The perception of suppliers, in general, regarding Petrobras\' technical specifications is that there is a higher cost to supply products because of the customizations requested by Petrobras, but on the other hand, they generate an increase in product quality. Analyzing the expansion barriers in production capacity, it was found that the E&P suppliers do not suffer influence due to the uncertainties of the Brazilian and global markets. Companies, regardless of their competitiveness, do not suffer influence from technological issues, demand or lack of skilled labor as barriers to the expansion of production capacity.

Submitted by JOSIANE SANTOS DE OLIVEIRA (josianeso) on 2017-07-10T16:43:53Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Viviana Benetti_.pdf: 1383843 bytes, checksum: aa89dc7a5c7e906dab8d8d7a81e38020 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T16:43:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Viviana Benetti_.pdf: 1383843 bytes, checksum: aa89dc7a5c7e906dab8d8d7a81e38020 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-21 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / PROEX - Programa de Excelência Acadêmica / Essa tese tem por finalidade identificar as influências das proposições da Comissão Econômica para o Desenvolvimento da América Latina e Caribe – CEPAL, nas propostas das políticas educacionais do estado do Rio Grande do Sul, durante os governos do período de 1998 a 2014. Apresenta como eixo, as estratégias que conduziam as mudanças nos setores educacionais, cientifico tecnológico e de capacitação, em vista da construção da cidadania, vinculada à democracia e ao progresso técnico na América Latina. Trata-se de um estudo de natureza qualitativa, com foco nas propostas de políticas de educação da CEPAL, presentes em dois documentos, Educação e Conhecimento: Eixo da Transformação Produtiva com Equidade (1992) e Invertir mejor para invertir más: Financiamento y gestión de la educación em América Latina y el Caribe (2005) e nos documentos sobre as propostas de políticas educacionais do estado do Rio Grande do Sul. O estudo está ancorado nos pressupostos teóricos da História crítica e procura articular os textos e os contextos em uma perspectiva dialética, com a utilização do método de Análise Documental, proposto por Andre Cellard. Esse é composto pelas etapas Análise Preliminar e Análise final. A partir do método, foram analisados os conteúdos dos documentos da CEPAL, identificadas as estratégias para as políticas educacionais e para os “conceitos-chave”. Nos documentos do estado do Rio Grande do Sul, foi realizada uma análise preliminar dos conteúdos de cada governo, promovida a análise final dos conteúdos dos governos considerados e as relações com os documentos da CEPAL. O objetivo dessa análise foi o de identificar as influências das proposições da CEPAL nas políticas educacionais dos governos do estado. O estudo evidencia que as proposições dos documentos da CEPAL apresentam um esforço sistemático nas inter-relações entre o sistema educacional, capacitação, pesquisa e desenvolvimento tecnológico, inseridos no âmbito principal da proposta, com foco na transformação econômica, na equidade social e na democratização política. Na pesquisa, verifica-se a preocupação com o financiamento da educação e a busca por diferentes fontes de recursos financeiros e os desafios para melhorar a gestão. Comprovou-se que existem influências das ideias estratégicas da CEPAL, nas políticas do estado, ao se considerarem os diferentes contextos de 7 cada governo e suas posições políticas, diante do movimento político-econômico neoliberal e as influências dos organismos internacionais. / This thesis aims at identifying the influences of the proposals made by CEPAL - Economic Commission for the Development of Latin America and the Caribbean - in the educational politics of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, during the governments of the period between 1998 and 2014. It focuses on the strategies that guided changes in educational, scientific, technological and training segments, considering the construction of citizenship entailed to democracy and technical progress. It is a qualitative study, which focuses on the proposals for politics of education by CEPAL from two documents: Educação e Conhecimento: Eixo da Transformação Produtiva com Equidade (Education and Knowledge: Axle of the Productive Transformation with Equity - 1992) and Invertir mejor parainvertir más: Financiamento y gestión de la educación em América Latina y el Caribe (To invest better in order to invest more: Financing and management of education in Latin America and Caribbean - 2005). It also considers the proposals of educational politics that appear in documents of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. This study it is rooted in the theoretical assumptions of Critical History and seeks to articulate the texts and the contexts in a dialectic perspective, by using the Documentary Analysis method created by Andre Cellard. This method is composed of two stages: Preliminary Analysis and Final Analysis. Through this method, the contents of CEPAL documents were analyzed, and the strategies for educational politics, as well as the "key concepts", were identified. Concerning Rio Grande do Sul’s documents, a preliminary analysis of the materials from each government was carried, as well as a final analysis of the texts written by such governments, considering its relations with CEPAL documents. Therefore, this study sought to identify the influences of CEPAL proposals in the educational politics of the governments of this state. The results demonstrate that the proposals from CEPAL documents present a systematic effort concerning the inter-relations between educational systems, qualification, research and technological development, which is inserted in the main scope of its proposal, focusing on economic transformation, social equity and political democratization. It was possible to verify CEPAL’s concern with the financing of education and the search of different sources of financial resources, as well as the challenges to improve its management. Thus, there is verified evidence of influence of CEPAL’s strategical ideas on the state politics, considering the different contexts of each government and its political position within 9 the neoliberal, political and economic movement, as well as the influences of international organisms.

高科技產業的發展為各國經濟發展的重要指標，因此本研究盼藉由進一步探討高科技產業發展過程中，主要影響創新與競爭力的重要因素，並加以分析兩岸在提升高科技產業創新競爭力的政策規劃，對於高科技產業創新發展的影響與作用。 / Innovation in high-technology industry has been affecting the general competiveness of a nation presently and innovation happens every day. The major influential factor to innovate or creation majorly regarding to environment, policy, profits circumstances. In this study, result has show that high-technology industries had made simultaneous contribution and played a critical role to effect the growth and advanced development of a nation, with another critical factor collaborated to create the successfulness of high-technology industry transformation by determine correct policies from state government. Taiwan government has been putting efforts in incentive policies to promote the developments of high-technology industry to effectively enhance the technology level. The study finds out that the major influential factors that will affect the general competiveness are majorly from government incentives policies and sufficient funding in disciplinary of R&D personnel, also creating a competitive environment is another important measure to enhance the innovation capability of high-technology industry. The disparity between Taiwan and Mainland China is majorly in population, government policies, government funding and investments these factors that influence the competiveness of innovation in high-technology industry between Taiwan and Mainland China. This analytical study shows in details with supportive statistic to indicate the developments of Taiwan and Mainland China during the past 10 years in innovation of high-technology industry.

The tourism industry is an extremely competitive industry which is mainly caused by the ever changing needs of tourists. However, despite the constant change in tourist behaviour, violent terrorist attacks on countries across the globe and the weakening of the world economies, the tourism industry showed significant growth over the last few decades. The fast growth rate of tourism has also lead to the tourist being more aware of ecotourism destinations and the key role these destinations play in conserving the natural and cultural environments in the midst of globalisation and urbanisation. The pressure on ecotourism destinations such as national parks is increasing as more and more natural land are being taken up for urban development. In the case of South African National Parks (SANParks), the decrease in government funding pressurizes the resources and national parks have to identify ways to generate their own income through tourism activities. SANParks manages 22 national parks across South Africa with the aim to conserve South Africa’s biodiversity, provide recreational activities for tourists and build long-term relationships with the local communities to enhance the communities’ quality of life. Hence, in order to remain competitive it is important to determine the parks' competitive advantages. Therefore the aim of this study was to develop a competitiveness model for SANParks by using the Kruger National Park as case study. The Kruger National Park is not only one of the largest and most recognised national parks in the world, but also boasts with a large variety of fauna and flora, variety of accommodation facilities such as bush lodges, chalets and camping facilities as well as various tourist activities. The literature review indicated that destinations differ from each other and therefore ecotourism destinations such as national parks would have a distinct set of competitive advantage factors. However, these factors can only be determined if the needs of tourists are anticipated and park specific products and services are developed to satisfy the needs of visitors to the park and ultimately lead to tourist loyalty. Once a competitive position has been established, a national park can obtain benefits such as an increase in tourist numbers and revenue delivery of high quality products and services at the park as well as trigger a higher quality of life for the local community. If managed accordingly, the park might experience sustainable growth as well as increased profit margins. The data for the study was collected by means of a questionnaire survey at four of the Kruger National Park's rest camps during the period 26 December 2013 and 4 January 2014 which is the festive season in South Africa. The rest camps that were included in this survey were Olifants (74 questionnaires); Skukuza (213 questionnaires); Lower Sabie (98 questionnaires) and Berg-&-Dal (51 questionnaires). A total of 436 completed questionnaires were administered and further analysed. Descriptive statistics were used to profile the respondents while two factor analyses were done on the competitive advantage factors and tourist motives for travelling to the Park. The factor analyses identified five competitive advantage factors of which Wildlife Experiences and Marketing and Branding were regarded as the most important factors. The other three competitive advantage factors were Accommodation and Retail, Visitor Management and Suprastructure and Amenities. Four motivational factors were identified namely Experience and Relaxation, Lifestyle, All-Inclusive Destination and Value. The identified factors were further used in an ANOVA analysis and the results showed that socio-demographic characteristics such as home language, province of residence, level of education and marital status have all significant differences based on the five competitive advantage factors as well as the four motivational factors The t-test analysis presented a few statistical significant differences between the independent variables or group of individuals. These differences were based on the respondents’ demographic and behaviour characteristics with regards to the competitive advantage and motivational factors. However, the strongest statistically significant differences were based on the behavioural characteristics of tourists travelling with children to the Park, Wild card holders, tourist reading magazines, previous visits to the Park and differences between tourists making use of chalets and camping facilities. A Structural Equation Model was applied to confirm the results that were obtained from the analyses. The SEM indicated that tourists’ motivations have a significant influence on the factors that tourists identified as competitive advantage factors for the Kruger National Park. This research made three distinct new contributions. Firstly, competitive advantage factors were specifically identified for ecotourism based destinations such as national parks from a demand side. Also, the tourists motivation for travelling proved to hugely influence these competitive advantage factors. Secondly, a competitiveness model was developed specifically for national parks within South Africa. The proposed model could assist national parks across South Africa to obtain a competitive advantage among its competitors based on park specific factors. Lastly, the concept of competitiveness has not yet been applied within the ecotourism and nature-based tourism destinations context. This study described the concept of competitiveness with the focus on national parks as ecotourism destinations and the aspects that need to be taken into consideration when analysing the concept in such a context. / PhD (Tourism Management), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The tourism industry is an extremely competitive industry which is mainly caused by the ever changing needs of tourists. However, despite the constant change in tourist behaviour, violent terrorist attacks on countries across the globe and the weakening of the world economies, the tourism industry showed significant growth over the last few decades. The fast growth rate of tourism has also lead to the tourist being more aware of ecotourism destinations and the key role these destinations play in conserving the natural and cultural environments in the midst of globalisation and urbanisation. The pressure on ecotourism destinations such as national parks is increasing as more and more natural land are being taken up for urban development. In the case of South African National Parks (SANParks), the decrease in government funding pressurizes the resources and national parks have to identify ways to generate their own income through tourism activities. SANParks manages 22 national parks across South Africa with the aim to conserve South Africa’s biodiversity, provide recreational activities for tourists and build long-term relationships with the local communities to enhance the communities’ quality of life. Hence, in order to remain competitive it is important to determine the parks' competitive advantages. Therefore the aim of this study was to develop a competitiveness model for SANParks by using the Kruger National Park as case study. The Kruger National Park is not only one of the largest and most recognised national parks in the world, but also boasts with a large variety of fauna and flora, variety of accommodation facilities such as bush lodges, chalets and camping facilities as well as various tourist activities. The literature review indicated that destinations differ from each other and therefore ecotourism destinations such as national parks would have a distinct set of competitive advantage factors. However, these factors can only be determined if the needs of tourists are anticipated and park specific products and services are developed to satisfy the needs of visitors to the park and ultimately lead to tourist loyalty. Once a competitive position has been established, a national park can obtain benefits such as an increase in tourist numbers and revenue delivery of high quality products and services at the park as well as trigger a higher quality of life for the local community. If managed accordingly, the park might experience sustainable growth as well as increased profit margins. The data for the study was collected by means of a questionnaire survey at four of the Kruger National Park's rest camps during the period 26 December 2013 and 4 January 2014 which is the festive season in South Africa. The rest camps that were included in this survey were Olifants (74 questionnaires); Skukuza (213 questionnaires); Lower Sabie (98 questionnaires) and Berg-&-Dal (51 questionnaires). A total of 436 completed questionnaires were administered and further analysed. Descriptive statistics were used to profile the respondents while two factor analyses were done on the competitive advantage factors and tourist motives for travelling to the Park. The factor analyses identified five competitive advantage factors of which Wildlife Experiences and Marketing and Branding were regarded as the most important factors. The other three competitive advantage factors were Accommodation and Retail, Visitor Management and Suprastructure and Amenities. Four motivational factors were identified namely Experience and Relaxation, Lifestyle, All-Inclusive Destination and Value. The identified factors were further used in an ANOVA analysis and the results showed that socio-demographic characteristics such as home language, province of residence, level of education and marital status have all significant differences based on the five competitive advantage factors as well as the four motivational factors The t-test analysis presented a few statistical significant differences between the independent variables or group of individuals. These differences were based on the respondents’ demographic and behaviour characteristics with regards to the competitive advantage and motivational factors. However, the strongest statistically significant differences were based on the behavioural characteristics of tourists travelling with children to the Park, Wild card holders, tourist reading magazines, previous visits to the Park and differences between tourists making use of chalets and camping facilities. A Structural Equation Model was applied to confirm the results that were obtained from the analyses. The SEM indicated that tourists’ motivations have a significant influence on the factors that tourists identified as competitive advantage factors for the Kruger National Park. This research made three distinct new contributions. Firstly, competitive advantage factors were specifically identified for ecotourism based destinations such as national parks from a demand side. Also, the tourists motivation for travelling proved to hugely influence these competitive advantage factors. Secondly, a competitiveness model was developed specifically for national parks within South Africa. The proposed model could assist national parks across South Africa to obtain a competitive advantage among its competitors based on park specific factors. Lastly, the concept of competitiveness has not yet been applied within the ecotourism and nature-based tourism destinations context. This study described the concept of competitiveness with the focus on national parks as ecotourism destinations and the aspects that need to be taken into consideration when analysing the concept in such a context. / PhD (Tourism Management), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The purpose of the study was to identify international university administrators' perspectives on organizational strategies to support higher education internationalization. Internationalization is the conscious effort to integrate international, intercultural, and global dimensions into the ethos and outcomes of higher education (NAFSA, 2008). A descriptive survey design method was used and the instrument entitled "Strategic Internationalization Priority Scale" was developed for this research. This study is quantitative and cross-sectional. The online survey was sent to 1,043 top university administrators at 149 universities in 50 countries. These universities had active international agreements with the University of South Florida at the time of the study. Approximately 350 university presidents, vice-presidents, and deans, from 33 countries, and 65 universities, participated in the study. ANOVA, MANOVA, and Multiple Regression analyses were used to examine data in the three dimensions of internationalization: 1) Planning and operations, 2) Student Education, and 3) Teaching and Faculty Development. The statistical programs used for data analysis were SAS 9.2, SPSS 18.0 and Mplus 5. In general, the study participants perceived the three dimensions as having a medium priority level. Planning and operation strategies, and student education strategies, were rated higher than those for teaching and faculty development. Four of the 34 strategies were perceived as having a high priority level: 1) Motivating students to participate in study abroad programs, 2) Establishing institutional collaboration with foreign universities, 3) Communicating an institutional global vision, and 4) Increasing visibility of international focus on institution's web site. In contrast, the following strategies were perceived as having a low priority level: 1) Creating a branch campus abroad, and 2) Considering foreign language fluency in salary and promotion decisions. The research findings revealed that there were differences in perceptions based on the following demographic characteristics: 1) Institutional description, 2) Institution's world region, 3) Institutional status, 4) Number of international undergraduate students, 5) Administrators' position, 6) Administrators' English proficiency, and 7) Administrators' International experience. Furthermore, the participants identified the following top difficulties in achieving internationalization at their institutions: 1) Lack of economic resources, 2) Lack of faculty involvement, 3) Lack of planning and coordination, and 4) Lack of governmental support. The implications of these results are presented as they relate to the research and practice of higher education administration, educational leadership and policy development.

How can small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) compete over time within international networks? This thesis takes a stance in that business network relationships are essential for international SMEs as such networks can provide knowledge and learning opportunities. International network competitiveness is, in this thesis, introduced as a concept that captures SMEs long term performance, resulting from the firms being competitive within international business networks. This thesis thereafter proposes that an analytical framework of International network competitiveness, can promote the study of SMEs' long term performance within international networks. The thesis subsequently acknowledges that SMEs frequently need to develop a combination of technical- and foregin market knowledge so as to stay competitive within international networks. In fact, technical knowledge development is central for an increasingly wider selection of firms, not only high tech firms. By investigating the function of co-innovation (innovation together with network partners), for the proposed components of international network competitiveness, the thesis demonstrate that innovation has intriguing and central functions for the international network competitiveness of SMEs. / <p>Diss. Stockholm :  Stockholm School of Economics, 2014. Introduction together with 4 articles. At the time of the disputation the articles had the status accepted</p>

Dans le contexte de la mondialisation, le projet d’émission d’une monnaie unique en Afrique de l’Ouest, initié par la CEDEAO en 1999, offre aux petites économies de la sous-Région de nouvelles opportunités. Le marché unique accroitrait la taille des marchés domestiques, favoriserait les économies d'échelle, simulerait la profitabilité des investissements et l’accroissement du Produit potentiel des économies. La présente Thèse étudie les implications associées à cette évolution monétaire projetée, dans la perspective des pays de la sous-Région qui conduisent actuellement une politique monétaire et de change autonome. Les résultats montrent que les économies de la CEDEAO ne sont pas synchrones, notamment par rapport à leur cycle de croissance. L’analyse des mésalignements établit que la non-Participation à une union monétaire ne protège pas contre les déséquilibres de change. Une participation de la Gambie, de la Guinée ou de la Sierra-Leone à l’UEMOA aurait été préférable, entre 1994 et 1999. Mais cet avantage se réduit ou disparaît à partir de 2000. Le bien-Être mesuré par la croissance du PIB ou par l’IDH n’est pas affecté par la participation à une zone ou à une union monétaire. Toutefois, une telle participation a un effet vigoureux, positif et significatif sur le bien-Être mesuré par la consommation par habitant. Globalement, malgré la faible synchronisation des économies, la participation à l’union monétaire en Afrique de l’Ouest est associée à un niveau de mésalignement équivalent ou plus faible que celui de la non-Participation, sauf pour le Ghana et le Nigéria. Mais une telle participation pourrait accroître la consommation par habitant. Le projet de monnaie unique de la CEDEAO est donc pertinent pour les économies de la ZMAO. / The context of the globalization suggests that the project of a West African common currency launched by the ECOWAS commission in 1999 is a potential source of opportunities for the small economies of the sub-Region. The common market will increase the scale of their small domestic markets; facilitate the realization of the scale economies; enhance the profitability of the investments and improve the potential product of the economies. Thus, this thesis aims to analyse the effect of that monetary evolution planned for countries following an autonomous monetary and exchange policy in the West African sub-Region. The results show that the economies of the sub-Region are not symmetric, especially because of their growth cycles. The equilibrium exchange rate analyse proves that the non-Participation in the common currency does not shield the West African economies against the exchange rate misalignment for them. Especially a participation of Gambia, Guinea or Sierra-Leone in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) between 1994 and 1999 would have generated a lower exchange rate misalignment for them. But that effect decreases or disappears as for 2000. On another hand, the participation in a common currency or in a monetary area in Sub-Saharian Africa does not affect the welfare measured by growth or HDI. But, both the participation in the monetary area or in the common currency improves the welfare, measured by consumption by head, strongly and significantly. Ultimately the ECOWAS economies are not robustly symmetric. Relative to the misalignment of the exchange rate the non-Participation in the WAEMU is not better, except for Ghana and Nigeria. For all ECOWAS economies, the participation in a common currency or in a monetary area is better for their welfare, measured by the consumption by head. The ECOWAS common currency project is subsequently relevant for monetary union non-Participants economies of the sub-Region.