The j-curve hypothesis: An investigation of bilateral trade between Nigeria and European Union

This thesis investigates the bilateral J-curve effects in the short-run and the Marshall–Lerner (ML) condition in the long-run between Nigeria and European Union in particular and between Nigeria and each of the countries that made up E.U.15. The study covers the period of fifty-six quarters (1999:Q1–2012:Q4) and employs Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL - bounds-testing) approach to cointegration and error correction model to analyse the relationships. The study found no evidence of J-curve and also the Marshall–Lerner (ML) condition is not satisfied in the bilateral case between Nigeria and European Union, but found the evidence of J-curve in the bilateral cases between Nigeria and each of Austria, Denmark, Germany and Italy in the short-run, while in the long-run, the Marshall-Lerner (ML) condition exists only in the case of Luxemburg. The study concludes with strong support for the assertion that real exchange rate changes alone can only be used as a policy tool to design and control Nigeria's trade balance if the naira is to be appreciated against the currencies of this group of countries. Keywords: J-curve, Marshall-Lerner (ML) condition , Trade balance, Exchange rate