ABSTRACT

This study of the uses of mobile phones by Zimbabwean youths engaged in unregulated informal trading in Central Harare shows that mobiles create socio-culturally embedded virtual and non-virtual ‘markets’. The study describes the novel and creative appropriations of mobile phones as informal traders navigate small-scale business opportunities. The theory of social networks and collective action was used to shed a light on how mobile phones help informal traders to create functional networks and virtual infrastructures through which reciprocal and mutual relations are established without the need for face-to-face contacts. The study demonstrates that these mobile virtual infrastructures not only create closely knit communities resembling traditional African ‘collective cultures’ but also help informal traders to access micro-credit, market intelligence among peers and mobile payments integrated with traditional banking platforms.

摘要

这项对津巴布韦青年在哈拉雷中部从事不受监管的非正式交易的手机使用情况的研究表明，手机创造了嵌入社会文化的虚拟和非虚拟“市场”。该研究描述了移动电话的新颖性和创造性的用途，因为非正式贸易商利用小规模的商业机会。社交网络和集体行动的理论被用来阐明手机如何帮助非正式交易者创建功能性网络和虚拟基础设施，通过这些网络和虚拟基础设施，无需面对面的接触即可建立互惠和相互关系。研究表明，这些移动虚拟基础设施不仅创建了类似于传统非洲“集体文化”的紧密联系的社区，而且还帮助非正规贸易商获得小额信贷，