ABSTRACT

Traders that participate in more competitive market structures earn relatively little marketing margins than those that participate in less competitive ones. For better returns, commodity producers have to transact in competitive market structures. Therefore, understanding market structures and market entry barriers are essential to inform policy. The study's objectives were to examine forms of market structure and investigate entry barriers into the local, district, and city groundnut markets for intermediary traders in central and northern Malawi. The findings revealed that the three markets were relatively competitive. Other results showed that business experience and sole ownership of business increased the traders’ likelihood to enter the district and local markets, respectively. Market transaction costs and storage infrastructure negatively and positively influenced the probability of traders’ entry into the local and city markets, respectively. The quantity of produce transacted increased and decreased the likelihood of entry into the local and city markets. Access to credit and informal credit sources increased and decreased the likelihood of entering the city market, respectively. Membership to informal trader associations increased the probability of entering the city market. Thus, institutions, markets and road infrastructure are critical to enhancing intermediary traders’ participation in the local and city groundnut markets.

摘要

与参与竞争较弱市场结构的交易者相比，参与竞争更激烈的市场结构的交易者获得的营销利润相对较少。为了获得更好的回报，商品生产商必须在竞争激烈的市场结构中进行交易。因此，了解市场结构和市场准入壁垒对于制定政策至关重要。该研究的目标是检查市场结构的形式，并调查马拉维中部和北部中间商进入当地、地区和城市花生市场的进入壁垒。调查结果显示，这三个市场竞争相对激烈。其他结果表明，商业经验和独资企业分别增加了贸易商进入地区和当地市场的可能性。市场交易成本和仓储基础设施分别对贸易商进入当地和城市市场的可能性产生了消极和积极的影响。交易的产品数量增加并降低了进入当地和城市市场的可能性。获得信贷和非正式信贷来源分别增加和减少了进入城市市场的可能性。加入非正式贸易商协会增加了进入城市市场的可能性。因此，机构、市场和道路基础设施对于加强中间商参与当地和城市花生市场至关重要。交易的产品数量增加并降低了进入当地和城市市场的可能性。获得信贷和非正式信贷来源分别增加和减少了进入城市市场的可能性。加入非正式贸易商协会增加了进入城市市场的可能性。因此，机构、市场和道路基础设施对于加强中间商参与当地和城市花生市场至关重要。交易的产品数量增加并降低了进入当地和城市市场的可能性。获得信贷和非正式信贷来源分别增加和减少了进入城市市场的可能性。加入非正式贸易商协会增加了进入城市市场的可能性。因此，机构、市场和道路基础设施对于加强中间商参与当地和城市花生市场至关重要。