Constrained Gazelles : High Potentials in West Africa's Informal Economy

The informal sector is typically characterized as being very heterogeneous and possibly composed of two clearly distinct segments, sometimes called the lower and upper tier. However, empirical evidence shows that even among lower tier entrepreneur's profitability can be quite high. The authors combine these findings and develop an innovative approach to identify what is called constrained gazelles, next to the well-known survivalists in the lower tier and growth-oriented top-performers in the upper tier. The sample of informal entrepreneurs in seven West-African countries allows linking the relative size of these three groups to the structural and macroeconomic environment in these countries.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Grimm, Michael, Knorringa, Peter, Lay, Jann
Format:	Working Paper biblioteca
Language:	English en_US
Published:	World Bank, Washington, DC 2012-03
Subjects:	ACCESS TO CAPITAL, ACCESS TO CREDIT, ACCESS TO FINANCE, ACCOUNTING, AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS, AGRICULTURE, BARRIERS TO ENTRY, BUSINESS ACTIVITY, BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, BUSINESS CLIMATE, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT, BUSINESS LOCATION, BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES, BUSINESS ORGANIZATION, CALCULATION, CAPACITY BUILDING, CAPITAL ACCUMULATION, CAPITAL STOCK, CD, CHECKS, COMPANY, CONTRIBUTION, CREDIT MARKET, CREDIT PROGRAMS, DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS, DISCRIMINATION, EARNINGS, ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ECONOMIC FACTORS, ECONOMIC GROWTH, ECONOMIC SECTORS, EDUCATION LEVELS, ELASTICITY, EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS, EMPIRICAL BASIS, EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE, ENDOWMENTS, ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT, ENTREPRENEUR, ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITY, ENTREPRENEURIAL BEHAVIOUR, ENTREPRENEURIAL CAPACITIES, ENTREPRENEURIAL SUCCESS, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, ETHNIC GROUP, EXCLUSION, EXPENDITURE, FAMILY LABOUR, FAMILY MEMBERS, FEMALE BUSINESS, FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS, FINANCIAL LITERACY, FINANCIAL PRODUCTS, FINANCIAL SERVICES, FINANCIAL SUPPORT, FIRMS, FIXED COSTS, FORMAL EDUCATION, GDP, GENDER, GENDER DIFFERENCE, GENDER GAPS, GENDER ISSUES, GROWTH POTENTIAL, HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE, HOUSEHOLD EXPENSES, HOUSEHOLDS, INCOME LEVEL, INCOME SOURCE, INEQUALITY, INFORMAL ECONOMY, INPUT USE, INSURANCE, INTERMEDIATE INPUTS, INVENTORIES, INVESTING, JOB CREATION, JOB OPPORTUNITY, JOINT VENTURE, KNOWLEDGE OF CREDIT, LABOR FORCE, LABOR FORCE SURVEY, LABOR MARKET, LABOR PRODUCTIVITY, LABOUR MARKET, LABOUR MARKET POLICIES, LABOUR MARKETS, LACK OF ACCESS, MARKET CONDITIONS, MARKET CONSTRAINTS, MARKETING, MICRO-CREDIT, MICROENTERPRISES, PHYSICAL CAPITAL, POLICY MAKERS, POLITICAL ECONOMY, PRICE DIFFERENCES, PROBABILITY, PRODUCT MARKETS, PRODUCTION ELASTICITIES, PRODUCTION FUNCTIONS, PRODUCTIVITY, PROFITABILITY, QUESTIONNAIRE, RECEIPTS, REGULAR INCOME, REPLACEMENT COSTS, RISK AVERSE, RISK AVERSION, SALES, SAVINGS, SECONDARY EDUCATION, SELF-EMPLOYMENT, SHOP, SMALL ENTERPRISE, SMALL ENTREPRENEURS, SMALL FIRM, SOCIAL NETWORKS, SOURCE OF INCOME, STRUCTURAL CHANGE, VALUE ADDED, WAGE, WAGE DIFFERENTIALS, WAGE DISCRIMINATION, WEALTH, WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS, YOUNG PEOPLE,
Online Access:	http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/468141468337243809/Constrained-gazelles-high-potentials-in-West-Africas-informal-economy http://hdl.handle.net/10986/26877
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