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Traders, agricultural entrepreneurs and the development of cross-border regions in West Africa

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  • Olivier Walther

Abstract

This paper examines the economic and spatial logics of traders and farmers located between Niger, Benin and Nigeria, with a view to identifying possible complementarities and their implications for regional integration in West Africa. It shows that the development of cross-border regions is highly dependent on the combination of two divergent spatial logics, i.e. the circulation developed by traders and the production developed by agricultural investors. Even though cross-border traders and farmers pursue divergent strategies, the paper suggests that the activities of both are centred on urban border markets. Consequently, investment in border market facilities could promote both trading and productive activities simultaneously in a number of countries. In this regard, the paper underscores the potential benefit of focusing development on functional economic areas rather than on nation-states, addressing concerns that border trade may undermine productive development.

Suggested Citation

  • Olivier Walther, 2012. "Traders, agricultural entrepreneurs and the development of cross-border regions in West Africa," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(3-4), pages 123-141, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:entreg:v:24:y:2012:i:3-4:p:123-141
    DOI: 10.1080/08985626.2012.670909
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Marcel Fafchamps, 2004. "Market Institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa: Theory and Evidence," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 1, volume 1, number 0262062364, December.
    2. WALTHER Olivier, 2011. "Sons of the soil and conquerors: The historical construction of the Dendi border region (West Africa)," LISER Working Paper Series 2011-20, Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER).
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    Cited by:

    1. Olivier J. Walther, 2015. "Business, Brokers and Borders: The Structure of West African Trade Networks," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 51(5), pages 603-620, May.
    2. Natalia Vershinina & Peter Rodgers, 2019. "Symbolic capital within the lived experiences of Eastern European migrants: a gendered perspective," Post-Print hal-03517416, HAL.
    3. KUEPIE Mathias & TENIKUE Michel & WALTHER Olivier, 2014. "Small businesses performance in West African border regions: Do social networks pay off?," LISER Working Paper Series 2014-06, Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER).
    4. repec:sdn:wpaper:1-kopi is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Hanna Karg & Imogen Bellwood-Howard & Edmund K. Akoto-Danso & Johannes Schlesinger & Takemore Chagomoka & Axel Drescher, 2019. "Small-Town Agricultural Markets in Northern Ghana and Their Connection to Rural and Urban Transformation," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 31(1), pages 95-117, January.
    6. Walther, Olivier J. & Dambo, Lawali & Koné, Moustapha & van Eupen, Michiel, 2020. "Mapping travel time to assess accessibility in West Africa: The role of borders, checkpoints and road conditions," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).

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