Factors Explaining Trade Growth among the Former Soviet Central Asian Countries in the Context of Recent Globalization Processes

This paper examines the determinants of trade flows among the CIS countries after the signature of several free trade agreements in an attempt to create a trade bloc aimed at benefiting from the world globalization process. Furthermore, we test the extent to which the CIS countries' trade growth has been associated with Russian economic performance. Our findings suggest that free trade agreements have favoured the creation of trade amongst CIS countries. However, intra-regional trade has not soared due to geographical disadvantages or certain lack of governance quality. The Russian influence in the region appears to be declining; however, new linkages such as migration, remittances, finance and energy supply dependency have recently sustained the Russian relevance.