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How does Market Access for Smallholders affect Export Supply? The Case of Tobacco Marketing in Malawi

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  • Wouter Zant

    (VU University Amsterdam, the Netherlands)

Abstract

We measure the impact of a reduction in transaction costs on crop area and production decisions of smallholder tobacco growers in Malawi. For identification we exploit the introduction of an additional tobacco auction floor. Estimations are based on annual data by Extension Planning Area. A 10% reduction in distance to auction floor is shown to increase crop area and production around 4% and 10% respectively. Supply response weakens beyond a distance to auction floor of 60km and runs along the intensive margin: existing tobacco growers improve productivity of cultivation. Impacts are robust for non-random placement of auction floor and several other threats.

Suggested Citation

  • Wouter Zant, 2016. "How does Market Access for Smallholders affect Export Supply? The Case of Tobacco Marketing in Malawi," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 16-054/V, Tinbergen Institute, revised 08 Aug 2018.
    • Handle: RePEc:tin:wpaper:20160054
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    transaction costs; market access; subsistence farming; food & cash crops; Malawi; Africa;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D23 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Organizational Behavior; Transaction Costs; Property Rights
    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • O55 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Africa
    • Q11 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Aggregate Supply and Demand Analysis; Prices
    • Q13 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Agricultural Markets and Marketing; Cooperatives; Agribusiness

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