Informal Entrepreneurship and Cross-Border Trade between Mozambique and South Africa

Bibliographic Data

ID13112731
AuthorsAbel Chikanda (0000-0001-7146-7976, University of Kansas, corresponding author), Inês Raimundo (0000-0002-0535-1163, Eduardo Mondlane University)
Year2017
Volume3
Issue2
Publication date2017-01-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAFRICAN HUMAN MOBILITY REVIEW (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2410-7972 • E-ISSN: 2411-6955
PublisherUniversity of the Western Cape Library Service (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.14426/ahmr.v3i2.833
OpenAlexW4231227482
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited7

Informal cross-border trading is an essential part of Maputoâ€TMs informal economy. This paper presents the results of a 2014 SAMP survey of informal entrepreneurs involved in cross-border trade between Johannesburg and Maputo. A questionnaire was administered to a sample of 403 informal traders in 7 markets in Maputo. The study showed that most of the entrepreneurs began their business activities as vendors and only later moved into cross-border trading. The overwhelming majority used their personal savings to start their business and they face significant barriers in accessing business loans from formal banking channels. The study demonstrates the importance of cross-border traders to both the Mozambican and South African economy. In South Africa, the cross-border traders make a significant contribution by buying local goods and utilising the services provided by the countryâ€TMs travel and hospitality industry. In Mozambique, they supply affordable products to the countryâ€TMs growing informal sector and play an important role in generating employment

Business · Economic growth · Economics · Economy · Entrepreneurship · Face (sociological concept · Geography · Goods and services · Hospitality · Informal sector · Sample (material · Small business · Tourism · Local Economic Development and Planning · Migration, Ethnicity, and Economy · Finance

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Open DOIOpen Access