Algeria–Mali Trade: The Normality of Informality

doi:10.1080/17938120.2017.1353767

Publication:
Algeria–Mali Trade: The Normality of Informality

dc.contributor.author	Bensassi, Sami
dc.contributor.author	Brockmeyer, Anne
dc.contributor.author	Pellerin, Mathieu
dc.contributor.author	Raballand, Gaël
dc.date.accessioned	2017-12-04T21:23:43Z
dc.date.available	2017-12-04T21:23:43Z
dc.date.issued	2017-07-03
dc.description.abstract	This paper estimates the volume of informal trade between Algeria and Mali and analyzes its determinants and mechanisms, using a multi-pronged methodology. In addition to mirror statistics analysis, we provide evidence of the importance of informal trade, drawing on satellite images and surveys with informal traders in Mali and Algeria. We estimate that the weekly turnover of informal trade fell from approximately US$2 million in 2011 to US$0.74 million in 2014, but that trade continues to play a crucial role in the economies of northern Mali and southern Algeria. We also show that official trade statistics are meaningless in this context because they capture less than 3% of total trade. Meanwhile, profit margins of 20–30% on informal trade help to explain the relative prosperity of northern Mali. Informal trade probably plays a strong role in poverty reduction, especially in the Kidal region.	en
dc.identifier.citation	Middle East Development Journal
dc.identifier.doi	10.1596/28935
dc.identifier.issn	1793-8120
dc.identifier.uri	https://hdl.handle.net/10986/28935
dc.publisher	Taylor and Francis
dc.rights	CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 IGO
dc.rights.holder	World Bank
dc.rights.uri	http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/igo
dc.subject	INFORMAL TRADE
dc.subject	CUSTOMS
dc.subject	SMUGGLING
dc.subject	INFORMALITY
dc.subject	POVERTY REDUCTION
dc.title	Algeria–Mali Trade	en
dc.title.subtitle	The Normality of Informality	en
dc.type	Journal Article	en
dc.type	Article de journal	fr
dc.type	Artículo de revista	es
dspace.entity.type	Publication
okr.associatedcontent	http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17938120.2017.1353767 Journal website (version of record)
okr.crossref.title	Algeria–Mali Trade: The Normality of Informality
okr.date.disclosure	2019-01-03
okr.doctype	Publications & Research::Journal Article
okr.doctype	Publications & Research
okr.externalcontent	External Content
okr.identifier.doi	10.1080/17938120.2017.1353767
okr.identifier.doi	10.1596/28935
okr.identifier.report	122579
okr.journal.nbpages	161-83
okr.language.supported	en
okr.peerreview	Academic Peer Review
okr.region.administrative	Africa
okr.region.administrative	Middle East and North Africa
okr.region.country	Algeria
okr.region.country	Mali
okr.topic	International Economics and Trade::Customs and Trade
okr.topic	International Economics and Trade::Trade and Regional Integration
okr.topic	Private Sector Development::Corporate Governance and Corruption
okr.topic	Private Sector Development::Enterprise Development & Reform
okr.topic	Private Sector Development::Microenterprises
okr.unit	Macroeconomics and Fiscal Management Global Practice
okr.volume	9(2)
relation.isAuthorOfPublication	8762e74d-2213-55a0-aa8d-dfe419512491
relation.isAuthorOfPublication.latestForDiscovery	8762e74d-2213-55a0-aa8d-dfe419512491