Dissertation
Streamlining cross-border commerce: Evaluating the role of trade facilitation aid in customs efficiency in recipient countries
Many developing countries rely on international assistance to modernize their customs administrations, yet improvements in customs efficiency remain uneven. My dissertation examines why trade facilitation aid produces different outcomes across recipient countries, shifting attention from trade volumes to the institutional conditions that shape customs performance. Combining cross-national panel analysis with case studies of Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, and Sierra Leone, I find that trade facilitation aid is associated with improved customs efficiency, but its effectiveness depends on recipient countries' political stability and, more importantly, institutional quality. The findings highlight that international assistance can support customs modernization, but lasting improvements depend on the strength and capacity of domestic institutions.
Published
David, F., Baah, N.K. & Mehwish, M. H. (2026). The Double-Edged Order: How Globalization Shapes Militarization Across Political Regimes in a Multiplex. International Spectator
Baah, K. N. & Arazan, C. (2025). Cannabis Policy Reform in Ghana: Attitudes of Faith-based Leaders. Contemporary Drug Problems
David, F. & Baah, N.K. (2025). Rethinking the Guns vs. Butter Tradeoff: A Non-Linear Regime Conditioned Approach. Defense and Peace Economics.
Besmel, P., & Baah, N.K. (2024). Critical Analysis of United States Counternarcotics Strategies in Afghanistan. Journal of Drug Issues
Under revise and resubmit
David, F. & Baah, N.K. (revise & resubmit). Training Strategic Partners: Strategic Compatibility and U.S. Foreign Military Training. International Studies Quarterly.
Under review
Baah, N.K., David, F., & Mehwish, M. H. (Under review). When Does a Domestic Crisis Become a Regional Security Problem? Strategic Security Relevance and Regional Intervention in GCC, CSTO, and SCO Responses. Political Science Review.
Working manuscripts
Trade Aid and Its Impact on Trade Institutions in Recipient Countries.
Cannabis Reform and Economic Development: The Politics of Emerging Markets in Africa.