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Towards the integration of markets: Competition in road transportation of perishable goods between Malawi, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe

Author

Listed:
  • Thando Vilakazi
  • Anthea Paelo

Abstract

Rapid urbanization and rising income levels in Southern Africa have increased the consumption of perishable and processed food products. This paper relies primarily on firm-level interview data to assess competition and bottlenecks in transporting time-sensitive perishable products across borders between Harare, Johannesburg, Lilongwe, and Lusaka. High transport prices in 2015—almost double the benchmark rates applied and rates for transportation of commodities—are partly explained by concentration in Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, and lack of return loads to Johannesburg.

Suggested Citation

  • Thando Vilakazi & Anthea Paelo, 2017. "Towards the integration of markets: Competition in road transportation of perishable goods between Malawi, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2017-49, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2017-49
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rashid, Shahidur & Minot, Nicholas, 2010. "Are Staple Food Markets in Africa Efficient? Spatial Price Analyses and Beyond," Food Security Collaborative Working Papers 58562, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.
    2. Thando Vilakazi & Anthea Paelo, 2017. "Towards the integration of markets: Competition in road transportation of perishable goods between Malawi, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe," WIDER Working Paper Series 049, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
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    5. Thando Vilakazi & Anthea Paelo, 2017. "Understanding intra-regional transport: Competition in road transportation between Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2017-46, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
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    1. Thando Vilakazi & Anthea Paelo, 2017. "Towards the integration of markets: Competition in road transportation of perishable goods between Malawi, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe," WIDER Working Paper Series 049, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    2. Grace Nsomba & Thando Vilakazi, 2021. "Barriers to entry and the role of African multinational corporations: Entrants in intermediate industrial products (inputs into construction)," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2021-143, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    3. Roberts Simon, 2017. "Working Paper 255 - Competition and industrial policies relating to food production in southern Africa," Working Paper Series 2366, African Development Bank.
    4. Phumzile Ncube & Simon Roberts & Tatenda Zengeni & Paul C. Samboko, 2017. "Identifying growth opportunities in the Southern African Development Community through regional value chains: The case of the animal feed to poultry value chain," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2017-4, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    5. Phumzile Ncube & Simon Roberts & Tatenda Zengeni & Paul C. Samboko, 2017. "Identifying growth opportunities in the Southern African Development Community through regional value chains: The case of the animal feed to poultry value chain," WIDER Working Paper Series 004, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).

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