Understanding internationalisation of informal African firms through a network perspective

Christopher Boafo, Richard Afriyie Owusu and Karine Guiderdoni-Jourdain ()
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Christopher Boafo: Leipzig University / Universität Leipzig
Richard Afriyie Owusu: School of Business and Economics, Linnaeus University, Vaxjo, Sweden
Karine Guiderdoni-Jourdain: LEST - Laboratoire d'Economie et de Sociologie du Travail - AMU - Aix Marseille Université - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

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Abstract: Studies of internationalisation have largely overlooked developing countries with high levels of legitimate informal entrepreneurship. Consequently, this article analyses the internationalisation of Informal African Firms (IAFs) from a network perspective. We undertook in-depth case studies of 14 informal smaller firms in two major enterprise clusters in Ghana. Our findings show that half transacted business in five to seven foreign markets, and more than half sold abroad within three years of inception. The study illustrates the different network ties that influence passive and active internationalisation strategies with evidence that these IAFs developed buyer networks through customer referrals and foreign customer walk-ins to the firm. Overall, we provide a comprehensive understanding of the triggers that initiate international business activities by IAFs so contribute to current theorising noting implications for management practices and policymaking on this important but hitherto, under-explored issue.

Keywords: informal sector; Africa; SME internationalisation; triggers; networks; enterprise clusters; Ghana (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022-01
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Published in International Small Business Journal, 2022, First publication online. ⟨10.1177/02662426211054099⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-03560793

DOI: 10.1177/02662426211054099

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