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The nature of informal food bazaars: Empirical results for Urban Hanoi, Vietnam

Masayoshi Maruyama and Le Viet Trung

Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 2010, vol. 17, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: This paper aims to study the interesting phenomenon of informal food markets in urban areas, which have been neglected in the past research. Based on an empirical study of consumer choice between informal and formal markets (markets built-up by street hawkers vs. government-planned markets), this paper provides a basis for understanding the nature of informal markets in the Vietnamese context. The results show that cheap price and convenience (proximity) are important in shaping the choice by consumers for informal markets for food, while close relationship with sellers or services provided by sellers are not. Shoppers with higher concern for freshness and safety of fresh food are more likely to shop at formal markets. Additionally, low-income shoppers are found significantly inclined toward informal markets, while higher-income shoppers tend to shop at formal markets. Therefore, these two types of market should be viewed as two marketplaces to serve two segments of consumer groups, rather than two markets competing for a share of the business.

Keywords: Informal market; Consumer behavior; Probit model; Vietnam (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D12 L81 M31 M38 O17 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:joreco:v:17:y:2010:i:1:p:1-9

DOI: 10.1016/j.jretconser.2009.08.006

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