Could regional integration be a first step toward joining the global market? Since trade liberalization reduces revenues from duties and taxes, the available resources for public investments are negatively affected. The proposed solution encourages less-developed countries to emphasize regional integration before trying to access the global market. This book explores the issues linked to regional integration in West Africa and presents empirical data about the experiences of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) countries in converging their economies. It also examines how these efforts influence poverty reduction in the economic and monetary community.