The impact of improved access to market information through mobile phones usage on selling prices: Evidence from rural areas in Cambodia

Daichi Shimamoto, Hiroyuki Yamada and Martin Gummert ()
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Martin Gummert: International Rice Research Institution, Philippines

No 14-06, Discussion Papers in Economics and Business from Osaka University, Graduate School of Economics

Abstract: Monopsony is often observed in local agricultural markets in developing countries because of the high entry cost to buyers; farmers in such markets therefore sell their agricultural products at a lower price. However, this situation seems to be changing with the diffusion of mobile phones. This paper investigates how access to market information through mobile phone usage impacts the selling price of rice in rural areas in Cambodia. We conducted a survey of farmers f households concerning agricultural production processes and rice sales in 20 villages in four provinces (Battambang, Prey Veng, Pursat, and Takeo). We find that farmers who have access to market information through the use of mobile phones are more likely to sell their rice at a higher price. In addition, we observe that the offers received by farmers with better access to market information through mobile phone usage tend to affect selling prices. The results imply that improved access to market information through the use of mobile phones improves farmers f bargaining power against traders, enabling them to sell their rice at a higher price.

Keywords: Agricultural Prices; Mobile phone; Cambodia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D82 D83 O12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 22 pages
Date: 2014-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-agr, nep-com, nep-dev and nep-sea
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