Constrained Gazelles : High Potentials in West Africa's Informal Economy

Grimm, Michael ; Knorringa, Peter ; Lay, Jann

World Bank, Washington, DC

关键词: ACCESS TO CAPITAL;    ACCESS TO CREDIT;    ACCESS TO FINANCE;    ACCOUNTING;    AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS;   

RP-ID  :  77926

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

The informal sector is typicallycharacterized as being very heterogeneous and possiblycomposed of two clearly distinct segments, sometimes calledthe lower and upper tier. However, empirical evidence showsthat even among lower tier entrepreneur's profitabilitycan be quite high. The authors combine these findings anddevelop an innovative approach to identify what is calledconstrained gazelles, next to the well-known survivalists inthe lower tier and growth-oriented top-performers in theupper tier. The sample of informal entrepreneurs in sevenWest-African countries allows linking the relative size ofthese three groups to the structural and macroeconomicenvironment in these countries.