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This study explores the impact of insurance services and the sustainability of businesses in the Nigerian informal sector. The analysis relies on extant literature sourced from various sources to develop an understanding of the current trends of insurance services in the Nigerian informal sector and develop a suggested model for improved insurance service delivery in the Nigerian informal sector. Findings show that stakeholder commitment is necessary for better impact of insurance services in the sector. The conclusion emphasizes the possibility of business sustainability through consolidated insurance services among stakeholders in the sector. Part of the suggestion for further research is the need for a wider focus on insurance practices both in the formal and informal sectors of the Nigerian economy. This is coupled with an exploratory view on the impact of policy development on insurance support to business activities in the Nigerian informal sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to explore the prevalence of immigrant entrepreneurship in Ghana's informal economy through institutional theory. Specifically, the study sought to understand how the elements of the institutional theory (norms, culture, and regulations, which form formal and informal institutions) support or discourage immigrant entrepreneurship in the Sub-Saharan African context, with insights from Ghana. It is qualitative research that adopts an in-depth face-to-face interview with 30 respondents. Analyzing the data from the interviews, the key findings are immigrants' inability to find paid jobs, failure to gather sufficient funds to operate in the formal sector, and the willingness to use innate ability. The Ghanaian culture of hospitality and the government's inability to implement trade regulations have been an enabler to the prevalence of immigrant entrepreneurship in Ghana. The legal frameworks that prohibit immigrants from participating in retailing, especially in the informal economy of Ghana, are well known by immigrant entrepreneurs, albeit it has yet to adhere. Therefore, there is a call for policy measures to address the weak institutional framework, which encourages disregard for the country's laws. Immigrant entrepreneurs who wish to remain in doing business in Ghana must obey the rules or suffer the punishment thereof. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined how credit cooperative loans affect women entrepreneurship. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 women entrepreneurs from three Cooperative Lending groups in the Ashaiman Municipality of Ghana. We found that credit cooperative lending groups support and promote women entrepreneurship by providing their members with access to long-term interest-free credit support to start or expand their businesses. We also found that by providing their members with training and capacity-building opportunities to improve their skills for sustainable businesses and their income to pay back their loans, credit cooperative lending groups significantly contribute to women entrepreneurship. The contribution of this study is that it sheds light on how credit cooperative loans help to alleviate the difficulties that women entrepreneurs of the informal sector in Developing Countries face to have access to financial resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the determinants of financial performance as perceived by Togolese female managers operating in the informal sector. The analysis is conducted using the partial least squares methodology based on data collected from 208 female-managed enterprises throughout Togo. The results indicate that business environment constraints, stereotypes toward females' managerial abilities, female entrepreneur's risk appetite, and being part of a network are associated positively and significantly with perceived financial performance, while difficult access to finance and cultural factors influence it negatively and significantly. Furthermore, the age of the enterprise is a significant determinant of the perceived financial performance. The positive effect of the business environment constraints is contrary to our expectations. This may be explained by the number of enterprises operating informally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we seek to understand the role of relationship marketing in achieving customer loyalty in Ghana's informal economy. The study further investigated the role of customer perceived value as a pass-through mechanism for the relationship between relationship marketing and customer loyalty. We collected primary data from 229 customers of informal economy operators in Accra. The data was then analyzed using structural equation modeling utilizing the STATA 15 Package. Our findings indicate that commitment is the only fundamental relationship marketing factor investigated that has a direct influence on customer loyalty in the informal business context. Trust and conflict handling on the other hand benefit significantly from the presence of customer perceived value whereas communication seems to have negligible effects. Consequently, scholars and marketing practitioners seeking to deploy the relationship marketing concept in the informal economy need to be aware of these contextual interplays and how they shape further discussions of the relationship marketing theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is a well-established practice of many Sub-Saharan African (SSA) governments to aid entrepreneurs within both the formal and informal sectors to enhance their performance and growth. Unfortunately, there is no agreed method by which governments can differentiate between entrepreneurs and target them with the appropriate promotion policies. Thus, despite the good intentions, entrepreneurship policy initiatives have been incorrectly targeted, poorly implemented, and without the desired results, since different entrepreneurs may require different forms of assistance. Some scholars have suggested that without a context-specific classificatory guide, policymakers are unlikely to be accurate in their assessment of the growth capabilities of prospective candidates for specific promotion initiatives and this can explain some of the policy failures. This observation has motivated the present paper. Our objective is to provide a framework that helps identify the different contextual dimensions influencing formal and informal enterprise creation processes in SSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the promotional activities embraced by informal clothing manufacturing micro-enterprises (CMMEs) in the informal economy of an emerging market. Informal micro-enterprises are both income and job-generating alternatives for unemployed people in South Africa's townships. Recent research has highlighted the need to develop unique marketing strategies to address challenges in emerging markets and help CMMEs realize their true potential. A qualitative case study, which included personal interviews with 13 CMME owners and observations at a workshop with five participating CMMEs, was undertaken at a business incubation hub. The findings from this study suggested the prevalence of opportunistic self-started promotional activities and assisted promotional activities. CMMEs selectively embrace some of the methods and activities contained in the conventional, innovational and fashion entrepreneur promotional mix strategies. The opportunistic use of promotional methods resulted in the survivalist promotional mix particular to the informal CMME in an African context. This paper makes a theoretical contribution to the knowledge base of marketing literature within the informal economy context, and literature about informal clothing micro businesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increasing number of researches has explored entrepreneurial motivations in terms of either opportunity, necessity or a mix of these two, in emerging contexts such as informal economies of Least Developed Countries (LDCs). However, research has stopped short exploring entrepreneurial motivation beyond these three previously mentioned types. This study expands the distinction of opportunity, necessity and mixed motivations in LDCs by exploring additional underlying dimensions. Based on a literature review and a qualitative pre-study with experts on the spot, 170 informal entrepreneurs in Tanzania were surveyed with a questionnaire covering 30 items measuring entrepreneurial motivations. The analyses unbox entrepreneurial motivation in two new distinctive types: those motivations related to the business and those related to the person. On a general level, this study follows up on the increasing call for contextualization of entrepreneurship research. On a more granular level, this study contributes to the existing literature of entrepreneurial motivation, especially in LDCs, by providing detailed insights of two motivation types of informal entrepreneurs in their consideration of shifting to the formal sector. Moreover, detailed pertinent information of the informal entrepreneurs is described, providing a closer look at an LDC's informal economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The achievement of business sustainability is dependent on the interacting components of the entrepreneurship ecosystem (EE) and institutions that support or challenge the business environment. Given the importance of the informal economy in developing economies, we need to rethink how to start an informal entrepreneurial revolution. This article examines the nexus of the informal entrepreneurial ecosystem, from the perspective of ecological resilience. Specifically, the article analyzes the significant differences between the formal sector, the informal sector, frugal innovations, and the supportive ecosystem resilience that produces unparalleled enthusiasm. Conceptually, this article developed propositions and a model of Productive and Unproductive EE explaining the business environment and the interacting predictors from the African regional context. Arguably, as entrepreneurial education and skills increases, there is more likelihood of the creation of formal ventures and growth-oriented micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). These have implications for economic growth and – in the case of African economies – moving the informal to formal economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Militancy is a continuing process in many developing regions where entrepreneurial activities in the informal economy have the potential to transform lives leading to sustainable development through local initiatives. Often militancy originates in protest against global encroachment and defending the livelihoods of local communities. Yet this leads to detrimental effects on such initiatives. The study focuses on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Niger Delta in Nigeria and looks at how the lessons learned may be used in other developing regions facing similar issues. Findings suggest how violent conflict resulting in an adverse impact on enterprise development can be mediated by collective actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indeed, research has long shown that funds have been more readily available for businesses in the "formal economy", despite the bulk of small or informal business activities catering to a significant proportion of the population in developing countries (up to 60% in some African economies, see for example, Madichie, [17]; Madichie et al., [20]; Madichie & Nkamnebe, [24]; Minnis, [25]; Nkamnebe & Madichie, [24]). On the one hand, Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs have been able to respond to opportunities and challenges in the host business environment in Africa (see Ndoro, Louw, & Kanyangale, [26]; Madichie & Hinson, [19]). Concerning the immigrants, research has highlighted this trend of informal businesses among two particular groups - the Chinese and the Lebanese (see for example, Madichie, [21]; Madichie & Nkamnebe, [24]; Madichie et al., [20]; Lituchy, [16]). Intersectionality of entrepreneurship has attracted significant scholarship effort over the years (Davidson, Fielden, & Omar, [3]; Gbadamosi, [6], [7], [8]; George, Khayesi, & Haas, [9]; Hack-Polay, Igwe, & Madichie, [10]; Ingenbleek, [12]; Madichie, [18]; Madichie, Nkamnebe, & Ekanem, [20]; McGrath et al., 1992; Rwelamila & Ssegawa, [32]; Sospeter et al. [35]). [Extracted from the article]

This study examined entrepreneurial competencies as a viable pathway for improving the innovative performance of SMEs in Nigeria's informal sector and the contingent roles of the business environment. A survey research design was used to gather data from 296 entrepreneurs who operate informal SMEs in Nigeria. Based on the findings from the SEM-PLS multivariate analysis, the study concluded that entrepreneurial competencies, especially organizing, conceptual, learning, strategic, opportunity, and risk-taking competencies, are essential for achieving higher innovation performance. The study also reveals that entrepreneurial competencies are useful toward mitigating environmental pressures resulting from operational turbulence and erratic policy changes, as the firm drives toward improving innovation outputs. As such, the entrepreneurship environment is becoming more endogenous as entrepreneurs, through their entrepreneurial competencies, have started to gain control over it. This study contributes to the entrepreneurship literature by highlighting the most essential competencies alongside the relevant contingencies. By doing that, this study offers a practical guide on priority competence area that entrepreneurship stakeholders, including entrepreneurs and policymakers, should consider for investment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the determinants of saving among individuals in the informal sector of Ghana with a focus on those engaged in commercial driving activities. The paper relies on primary data and employs descriptive analysis and the binary probit model as the estimation technique. The results reveal that commercial drivers who own the vehicle themselves, have a secondary occupation and have financial institutions close to their stations are more likely to save. In addition, the study reveals a negative relationship between age, education, financial literacy and saving. Based on these findings, relevant policy suggestions have been provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study street vendors in the Nyarugenge District (Kigali, Rwanda) during field research (July to August 2017) using a multimethod approach including field observation, a survey and background interviews. The survey tests assumptions by policymakers about the determinants of financial inclusion of informal sector workers in order to strengthen the evidence base for Rwandan policies aimed at financial inclusion of the informal sector. An ordered probit analysis supports the importance of gender for both de facto bank account use of self-employed in the informal sector. From a policy perspective it is relevant that key actors during background interviews have indicated that they believe that individual characteristics such as gender are not important for the formal decision to accept an individual as an account holder at a financial institution (de jure financial inclusion), but that this is contradicted by the fact that gender is a statistically significant determinant of frequency of use (de facto financial inclusion). The presence of a financial institution in the home location of the street vendor is the most significant determinant identified by our research. From a policy perspective this underlines the importance of good financial infrastructure: the geography of financial inclusion is important as has been established by earlier research on the differences between urban and rural areas, but our results show that the driver is the availability of a financial institution in the street vendor's hometown, thus providing policymakers with a tool to improve financial inclusion in Rwanda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Business in the urban informal economy can be seen as a challenging terrain with enormous hurdles for women entrepreneurs. This paper explores major barriers that obstruct smooth development of women entrepreneurship in Uganda’s urban informal economy. The study provides some useful academic insights and offers some practical suggestions for improving policy for women entrepreneurs. The value of this research lies in providing significant insights related to the initiation of policies and programs for entrepreneurship development, but also in increasing women’s involvement in the urban informal economy through a better understanding of the gender-based barriers to entrepreneurship. It is hoped that the study will influence business development in the urban informal economies of Uganda in particular, and Africa in general. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]