Livelihood Outcomes of Informal Cross Border Traders Prior to the Rise of the Virtual Cash Economy in Gweru, Zimbabwe

B. Dzawanda, M. D. Nicolau, M. Matsa and W. Kusena

Journal of Borderlands Studies, 2023, vol. 38, issue 1, 75-94

Abstract: Informal cross border trade (ICBT) is a viable economic activity that many people in Zimbabwe depend upon for their survival during times of economic hardship. The research examined the livelihood outcomes of ICBT during the multi-currency era and prior to the extensive use of the virtual cash economy in Zimbabwe. Data collection instruments comprised closed and open-ended questionnaires, focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews with 497 traders at flea markets in Gweru, Zimbabwe. Results revealed that during the cash economy, ICBT generated livelihood outcomes through the exchange of cash, allowing traders to acquire land and goods and to provide employment. The study recommended the simultaneous use of the virtual cash economy and a cash economy to provide sustainable livelihood outcomes for all stakeholders. In addition, it is recommended that the government of Zimbabwe should integrate ICBT into the mainstream economy by formalization through economic policy.

Date: 2023
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
http://hdl.handle.net/10.1080/08865655.2020.1865187 (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:taf:rjbsxx:v:38:y:2023:i:1:p:75-94

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.tandfonline.com/pricing/journal/rjbs20

DOI: 10.1080/08865655.2020.1865187

Access Statistics for this article

Journal of Borderlands Studies is currently edited by Emmanuel Brunet-Jailly, Henk van Houtum and Martin van der Velde

More articles in Journal of Borderlands Studies from Taylor & Francis Journals
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Chris Longhurst ().