Networks, communities and markets in sub-Saharan Africa: implications for firm growth and investment
Networks, communities and markets in sub-Saharan Africa: implications for firm growth and investment
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DOI：
10.1093/jae/10.suppl2.109
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发表时间：
2001-09
影响因子：
1.6
通讯作者：
M. Fafchamps
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
M. Fafchamps
本文考察了关系和网络如何影响撒哈拉以南非洲的市场交换。在注意到市场交换可以说在非洲发挥着比发达经济体更大的作用之后，我们表明，交易成本的存在自然会导致市场参与者进入长期贸易关系。这些关系形成了塑造市场结果的商业网络。我们认为，网络分割可能具有巨大的效率和公平成本，特别是在国际贸易中。由于网络外部性，熟悉特定活动的集团和国家往往会继续投资于该活动。网络和非凸性交易成本的存在也使市场竞争的分析变得复杂。并简要讨论了对未来研究的启示。
This paper examines how relationships and networks affect market exchange in Sub-Saharan Africa. After noting that market exchange arguably plays a larger role in Africa than in developed economies, we show that the presence of transactions costs naturally leads market participants to enter in long-term trading relationships. These relationships form business networks that shape market outcomes. We argue that network segmentation can have large efficiency and equity costs, particularly in international trade. Because of network externalities, groups and countries that are familiar with a particular activity tend to continue investing in that activity. The presence of networks and non-convex transactions costs also complicates the analysis of market competition. Implications for future research are briefly discussed.