Publication:
How Selling Online Is Affecting Informal Firms in South Asia

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dc.contributor.authorBussolo, Maurizio
dc.contributor.authorDixit, Akshay
dc.contributor.authorGolla, Anne
dc.contributor.authorKotia, Ananya
dc.contributor.authorLee, Jean N.
dc.contributor.authorNarasimhan, Prema
dc.contributor.authorSharma, Siddharth
dc.date.accessioned2023-02-16T15:59:20Z
dc.date.accessioned2023-03-06T16:07:53Z
dc.date.available2023-02-16T15:59:20Z
dc.date.available2023-03-06T16:07:53Z
dc.date.issued2023-02
dc.description.abstractUnderstanding how e-commerce platforms are affecting the small, informal firms that sell on them is a question of growing importance to researchers and policy makers in developing countries. This paper examines this question using data from surveys of firms selling on two e-commerce platforms in South Asia. The businesses selling on these platforms range widely in terms of size, degree of formalization, and other characteristics. However, these firms -- even the micro and small ones, which tend to be informal -- are from a selected group, being owned and managed by individuals who are more educated and younger than the owners and managers of more typical firms in this setting. The sellers' main reason for joining the platforms is to access more customers. Most of the sellers report an expansion of their business after joining the platforms. They also report an increase in their incentive to register their business and their visibility to tax authorities. Other, less widespread channels of impact reported by the firms include the adoption of new or improved business practices and technologies, better access to finance, and greater flexibility in balancing home and work life. In general, these reported impacts do not vary significantly by firm size or degree of formalization, suggesting that even informal, small firms that have (selectively) joined e-commerce platforms can benefit from the greater market access facilitated by the platforms. Finally, given size and age, firms that have been selling on the platform for a longer period are more likely to experience these impacts, suggesting that firms learn how to use the platform more effectively over time.en
dc.identifierhttp://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/099444202142334446/IDU0039fe5d30b540042bd0aa8a0fc249451de56
dc.identifier.doi10.1596/1813-9450-10306
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10986/39446
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherWorld Bank, Washington, DC
dc.relation.ispartofseriesPolicy Research Working Papers;10306
dc.rightsCC BY 3.0 IGO
dc.rights.holderWorld Bank
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo
dc.subjectE-COMMERCE PLATFORM
dc.subjectINFORMAL EMPLOYMENT
dc.subjectINFORMALITY
dc.subjectMARKET ACCESS
dc.subjectE-COMMERCE SELLERS
dc.subjectACCESS TO FINANCE
dc.subjectGROWING SMALL BUSINESSES
dc.subjectCUSTOMER ACQUISITION
dc.subjectONLINE BUSINESS
dc.subjectONLINE SHOPPING APP
dc.titleHow Selling Online Is Affecting Informal Firms in South Asiaen
dc.typeWorking Paperen
dc.typeDocument de travailfr
dc.typeDocumento de trabajoes
dspace.entity.typePublication
okr.crossref.titleHow Selling Online is Affecting Informal Firms in South Asia
okr.date.disclosure2023-02-14
okr.date.doiregistration2025-04-10T11:22:01.131876Z
okr.date.lastmodified2023-02-14T00:00:00Zen
okr.doctypeWorking Papers
okr.doctypeWorking Papers::Policy Research Working Papers
okr.docurlhttp://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/099444202142334446/IDU0039fe5d30b540042bd0aa8a0fc249451de56
okr.guid099444202142334446
okr.identifier.doi10.1596/1813-9450-10306
okr.identifier.externaldocumentumIDU-039fe5d3-b540-42bd-aa8a-fc249451de56
okr.identifier.internaldocumentum34002354
okr.identifier.reportWPS10306
okr.importedtrueen
okr.language.supporteden
okr.pdfurlhttp://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/099444202142334446/pdf/IDU0039fe5d30b540042bd0aa8a0fc249451de56.pdfen
okr.region.administrativeSouth Asia
okr.region.geographicalSouth Asia
okr.topicPrivate Sector Development::Business in Development
okr.topicPrivate Sector Development::E-Commerce
okr.topicPrivate Sector Development::Emerging Markets
okr.topicPrivate Sector Development::Marketing
okr.topicPrivate Sector Development::Small and Medium Size Enterprises
okr.unitOffice of the Chief Economist (SARCE)
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