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Evaluating the effectiveness of inter-regional trade and storage in Malawi’s private sector maize markets

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  • Myers, Robert J.

Abstract

This paper evaluates the effectiveness of the private sector maize marketing system in Malawi using threshold autoregression models. Two dimensions of maize market performance are evaluated: (1) inter-regional trade and spatial price transmission; and (2) storage and seasonal price relationships. In both cases, threshold autoregression models which account for nonlinearities predicted by economic theory are applied. Results indicate that spatial price transmission and seasonal price patterns in private sector maize markets in Malawi are generally consistent with long-run competitive inter-regional trade and storage behavior, and that in most cases shocks to long-run equilibrium are arbitraged away quickly. This suggests the private sector in Malawi is generally doing a good job of transporting maize from surplus to deficit regions and smoothing maize consumption between harvests.

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  • Myers, Robert J., 2013. "Evaluating the effectiveness of inter-regional trade and storage in Malawi’s private sector maize markets," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 75-84.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jfpoli:v:41:y:2013:i:c:p:75-84
    DOI: 10.1016/j.foodpol.2013.04.007
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    2. Brenton, Paul & Portugal-Perez, Alberto & Regolo, Julie, 2014. "Food prices, road infrastructure, and market integration in Central and Eastern Africa," Policy Research Working Paper Series 7003, The World Bank.
    3. Porteous, Obie C., 2015. "High Trade Costs and Their Consequences: An Estimated Model of African Agricultural Storage and Trade," 2015 AAEA & WAEA Joint Annual Meeting, July 26-28, San Francisco, California 205776, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
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    5. Fan, Xiaoli & Gómez, Miguel I. & Atallah, Shady S. & Hernandez, Juan, 2014. "Examining Seasonality of Spatial Efficiency in the U.S. Fresh Broccoli Market," 2014 Annual Meeting, July 27-29, 2014, Minneapolis, Minnesota 170235, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    6. Lentz, Erin C. & Michelson, Hope C. & Baylis, Kathy, 2017. "An Approach to Improving Early Warning Systems: Using Spatially and Temporally Rich Data to Predict Food Insecurity Crises in Malawi," 2017 Annual Meeting, July 30-August 1, Chicago, Illinois 258223, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    7. Porteous, Obie, 2020. "Trade and agricultural technology adoption: Evidence from Africa," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    8. Sitko, Nicholas J. & Jayne, T.S., 2014. "Exploitative Briefcase Businessmen, Parasites, and Other Myths and Legends: Assembly Traders and the Performance of Maize Markets in Eastern and Southern Africa," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 56-67.

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