Knowledge in informal African markets - a case study of three informal markets in Zimbabwe
Date
2016-03
Authors
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Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: If knowledge is power, this thesis tries to show how informal African markets share that
power. In many African countries such as Zimbabwe, policy makers and development
partners are yet to fully understand the knowledge system of the informal markets and how it
functions. The informal economy is an informal person to person information system. It
becomes a knowledge system when farmers and traders take action based on information
signals shared in the market. The information system is informal because the flow of
information is not organized formally.
Farmers and traders do not rely on any database or computer for decision-making. The
information system that they use connects with the special nature of trust and memory.
Given that the informal information system is not regulated or written down, trust becomes
the essence of information exchange and of the knowledge system. All relationships in the
informal economy are based on trust. This trusted informal information system, on one hand,
gives smallholder traditional farmers power around production, use of land as well as
livestock ownership and post-harvest handling. On the other hand, by informing farmers
about market expectations as well as sorting and aggregating commodities, traders have
power to determine the value of farmers’ agricultural commodities. Although the information
system overlaps with the formal system, person to person information-sharing remains the
basic thing reinforcing vertical and horizontal power integration within the market. Without
these assets, the informal agricultural market will stop functioning.
In this thesis, Chapter 1 lays out the Structure of the Research, teasing out the main objective
of the research which is to understand knowledge dynamics in informal agriculture markets.
It also explains the context and essence of the problem under investigation. This chapter also
articulates the research questions and provides a contextual description of Zimbabwe’s
agriculture sector including the role of the informal markets. Chapter 2 captures the scope of
work and methodology while Chapter 3 focuses on Knowledge and Learning as theoretical
underpinnings of the research.
Chapters 4 and 5 focus on the data collection process where interviews and focus group
discussions were the main methods. Chapter 4 captures the voice of the farmers while
Chapter 5 dwells on the voice of the traders. As a conclusion, Chapter 6 ties together the key
issues around knowledge and learning emerging from this research.
AFRIKAANS OPSOMMING: Die tesis prober toon hoe informele markte in Afrika met kennis omgaan. Die tesis fokus op drie markte in Zimbabwe en ondersoek die kennissisteem wat daarin voorkom. Uiteraards word geen van die elektroniese hulpmiddels gebruik nie. Wderesydse vertroue en die vermoë om te memoriseer is die basis van die informele kennisstelsel. Die grootste deel van die tesis is ‘n weergawe van persoonlike onderhoude met deelnamers aan die markte.
AFRIKAANS OPSOMMING: Die tesis prober toon hoe informele markte in Afrika met kennis omgaan. Die tesis fokus op drie markte in Zimbabwe en ondersoek die kennissisteem wat daarin voorkom. Uiteraards word geen van die elektroniese hulpmiddels gebruik nie. Wderesydse vertroue en die vermoë om te memoriseer is die basis van die informele kennisstelsel. Die grootste deel van die tesis is ‘n weergawe van persoonlike onderhoude met deelnamers aan die markte.
Description
Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2016.
Keywords
Zimbabwe -- Economic policy, Zimbabwe -- Commerce, Entrepreneurship, Zimbabwe -- Economic aspects, Knowledge management, Informal sector (Economics) -- Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe -- Economic conditions, UCTD