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The public display and lavish spending of wealth for other-than-economic ends has been a topic of vital importance in anthropology and sociology. Studies on the expansion of markets and transnational mobility in Latin American rely on the persistent idea that new economic riches are turned into recognition, prestige and power through feast sponsorship in home communities. In this article, I demonstrate that among Bolivian traders who regularly source in Chile and China, stewardship of a dance group for a patronal fiesta in La Paz has ceased to be a sponsorship and become an investment. Traders have integrated the advance of fiesta-related money into their loops of capital, but they also depend on social ties and reciprocal obligations to make a profit. A translocal perspective is deployed in order to understand the entanglement of trading and feasting: traders' experiences with the global economy and the persistence of fiesta-specific forms of mutuality as well as the principle of rotation of the stewardship. I argue that as webs of fiesta-related trades and services change year after year, business opportunities are temporarily distributed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field latex is an important raw material in Thailand, produced by a large number of smallholders and handled by numerous local traders. This diversity of stakeholders involved along the production and marketing chain could result in the variability of the latex quality delivered to the factories. Latex processing industries need a raw material with consistently specified properties. Therefore, it is crucial to identify the factors that could affect latex properties. However, a complete description of the practices from the farmer to the factory is missing. Thus, a study was conducted to (1) characterise the upstream practices, (2) identify variable practices and (3) analyse farmers' and traders' perceptions of field latex quality that are believed to influence their practices. A survey was conducted with 398 field latex producers and 182 field latex traders distributed in eight provinces of Southern Thailand. The results showed that some agronomic practices in the mature plantations presented homogeneity (planting material, weed control, management of the inter-row of the plantations) while others (fertilisation, tapping panel treatment, harvesting practices) presented important diversity. Farmers' and traders' post-harvest practices presented limited sources of contamination. Nonetheless, for both stakeholders, an important possible source of variability was the quantity of latex preservative used. Finally, the analysis of the practices and the perception of the stakeholders clearly showed that field latex quality was determined both before and after harvesting. Research is still needed to analyse the impact of some agronomic practices on field latex quality. Latex traders also appeared as key stakeholders dealing with the quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examines the determinants of trader's access to credit in Ghana with a major focus on the educational literacy level of traders. To do so, the study relies mainly on primary data and applies the probit estimation technique to the dataset. The study finds that source of income, collateral security, household size, business experience and educational literacy level is significant in determining traders' access to credit in Ghana. Based on these findings, it, is recommended that financial institutions should encourage traders to upgrade their educational literacy level on accounts arid records keeping, since this will enhance their basic knowledge not only on their trading activities but also on financial transactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article asks how local traders or middlemen continue to thrive in the agricultural markets of liberalized India. It studies this by focusing on the shifting politics of the relation between farmers and commission agents (arhtias) in post‐harvest wholesale markets in Ludhiana district, Punjab. It uses the framework of political analysis of markets towards this, paying close attention to the role of the state and the nature of interlinked markets. Drawing on intensive primary fieldwork, the article argues that the power of the arhtias is constituted differently across different commodities and in relation to different agrarian classes. At the same time, the state, notwithstanding its changing priorities, and the diversification of large farmers into the commission agent business have been crucial to their persistence in the wholesale grain markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the livelihoods, experiences and identities of immigrant informal traders and shopkeepers in the Buffalo City Metropolitan area, which encompasses the centres of East London, Mdantsane and King Williams Town. We primarily use a socio-spatial perspective to analyse informal activity, and offer a particular perspective on how informality has encouraged a type of 'informal citizenry' among traders. We argue that informal trading has a very particular history in the region, and that East London's notoriety as a 'border city' and a regional frontier has created a fractured space, which is best expressed through the experiences of migrants and entrepreneurs. We point out that informality is a driver of economic empowerment and equality among traders, but also of xenophobia and difference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper identifies aspects of resilience taking effect in the marketplace and their influences on the roles of low-income traders and customers towards their households. Building on the concept of marketplace resilience and drawing from the findings from 42 publications on urban marketplaces in Africa, Asia and Latin America, this paper identifies the main functions and attributes of marketplaces that contribute or hinder the activities of traders and customers, the main disturbances they can experience in the marketplace and their strategies in building resilience. While this paper demonstrates the significance of marketplaces for the households of traders and customers, it also illustrates how disturbances in the marketplace and trade-offs to maintain trade during crises can negatively impact household needs and conditions, as well as the limited capacities of traders for improving their conditions. The paper finally argues for including marketplaces in resilience assessments and infrastructure studies in low-income urban contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyses the role of merchandising as an important competitive tool for improving the quality of customer service, strengthening the producer's image, stimulating sales and increasing revenues. The key components of the process are defined, the techniques for effective solutions as well as the professional competencies that merchandiser must possess in order to be successful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Having high export potential and profitable to farmers, Ginger is an important spice crop of hills of central Nepal; however, ginger farmers continue to experience low productivity and were forced to share large profit with unscrupulous traders; further, they are traumatized by fluctuation of price and other problems. In this context, a study was undertaken in Sindhuli, a part of Central Nepal for analyzing value chain of ginger. A pretested semi-structured questionnaire was administered among 120 randomly selected farmers and 10 traders involved in ginger enterprise for the past two years. A face-to-face interview was scheduled to obtain data during October-November, 2018. Compound annual growth analysis revealed that area, production and yield of ginger were increasing at the rate of 1.73%, 1.65% and 0.95%, respectively, over the last seven years and price of ginger, over the past thirteen years, increasing at the rate of 3.28%. Value chain analysis revealed that producer, traders (wholesaler and exporter), retailer and consumer were the major actors involved. Farmers received substantial margin - 55% of the retail price, but the rest of the profit was shared to unscrupulous traders. B/C ratio of ginger farming in the study area was 2.42 revealing that ginger farming was a profitable business; with investment of Rs1.0 (0.0088US$) in ginger, farmers earned additional 1.42 rupees. Low productivity of ginger in the research area was caused by severe incidence of rhizome rot. In addition, price fluctuation, lack of processing and storing infrastructure, timely unavailability of rhizome seed, paucity of improved variety, and lack of farmers' knowledge on improved cultivation practices were the major constraint of ginger farming. Overall, our study points out that solving the constraints, accessing new market, and organizing co-operatives are crucial for sustainable value chain development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Africa's system of migrant labour is widely accepted as being an exploitative system that was based on the degree to which the Chamber of Mines could derive a profit from cheap labour. The exploitation and suffering that mine labour and recruitment produced, however, tells us only part of a story. Why were people so willing to become migrant labourers – particularly on gold mines – in the first place? This is all the more important because it has been shown that African peasants responded very positively to market forces in the last third of the nineteenth century, and thus would have all the reason more to remain in their rural homes. As in the Caribbean, the Chamber of Mines in South Africa realised that active recruitment was required to launch large-scale migration from one region of Africa into another. But what did this active coercion involve? This paper primarily uses archival and pictorial records to explore how workers could sell their labour so cheaply at the expense of their families and rural homes. Extensive use has been made of the Witwatersrand Native Labour Association (WNLA) and Native Recruiting Corporation (NRC) archives at the University of Johannesburg, as well as personal accounts of ex-traders in the Transkei. These have been used to inform an exploration of how the larger phenomenon of migration was propped up by false advertising, debt and extortion of mineworkers in the Eastern Cape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diffusion of global retailers and the introduction of 'modern' channels of distribution and sourcing, combined with affluent domestic demand for higher-quality fresh produce, have caused significant transformations in food retail systems in the Global South. This paper examines Thai food systems undergoing transformation by drawing on qualitative interviews with key stakeholders along selected agri-food value chains in Chiang Mai and Bangkok. Through an analysis of the spaces of interaction in 'traditional' and supermarket-driven food-retail value chains, the paper shows that similar food safety and quality requirements are transmitted upstream in both 'types' of chain. The paper argues that supermarket-driven agri-food value chains do not evolve or operate separately from 'traditional' ones. Distantly located urban wholesale traders and modern food-retail outlets are dependent on and interconnected with similar traders located in villages and towns in rural areas, who perform a pivotal role in product differentiation and in coordinating and monitoring compliance with requirements. The paper ends by discussing how spatial connections in agri-food value chains influence local development patterns in distant but interconnected localities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile money services provide benefits for trade such as payment of bills, reduced cost and time for transactions, increased savings options, sales, and convenience. Despite the benefits, adoption and use of mobile money services by traders in Uganda remain low. This paper reports on the results of a study that explore the challenges traders face in using and adopting mobile money services in Uganda. Self‐administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 394 respondents in a survey. A model to support mobile money service adoption by traders is proposed. The proposed model extends the Unified Theory for the Acceptance and Use of Technology. Regression analysis indicated that performance expectancy, social influences, and sensitization constructs significantly influence the behavioural intention of mobile money services adoption for trade. On the other hand, security, effort expectancy did not significantly influence the behavioural intention to adopt mobile money services by traders. The findings further reveal that facilitating conditions influenced use behaviour of mobile money services for trade transactions. The proposed model is flexible and generic and can be utilized in other developing countries with similar contexts as Uganda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we demonstrated the dynamic impact of a bumper harvest and drought shocks on the maize market and on the trade regime in Ethiopia. Regional market integration of Ethiopia's white maize market with the South Sudan and Kenyan maize markets was also examined using cointegration analysis. Despite the renewed conflict in South Sudan, Addis Ababa maize market is cointegrated with Juba's maize market. The simulation analysis indicated that a 20% increase in maize yield could reduce the maize price by 81%. This implies a decrease in the maize price level of 70% (110 USD/t) below the export parity price. This makes maize exports profitable and shifts the trade regime from autarky to an export parity regime. On the other hand, the effect of a drought could increase maize prices by 61% in the short run (within the year). At the current market price, the domestic maize price is wandering between the border prices and it is unprofitable to export maize. Therefore, lifting the export ban, even during normal harvest seasons, would not do any harm to the domestic maize price. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean value chains are an important means to supply the growing demand for protein in Africa and a source of income for farmers and processors. In Benin, the functioning of chains is however hindered by heterogeneous quality levels, the entrance of foreign traders, and a lack of support from the government and macro-level organizations. The local nongovernmental organization Sojagnon (the association of development of soybeans in Benin) has the mission to reorganize the Beninese soy system. It worked among others on the improvement of seed quality, the professionalization of farmers and processors, the development of a soybean value chain. In this case study, Patrice Sèwadé, Sojagnon's chairman reflects on the interventions of the past years and wonders what the next actions should be. The case highlights the role of local entrepreneurs and organizations in the rapid transformation of the African agri-food environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of De Computis is the property of Asociacion Espanola de Contabilidad y Administracion de Empresas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendiskripsikan pelaksanaan, hasil, dan faktor keberhasilan program pemberdayaan pedagang pasar tradisional dalam pondok komunitas belajar di SKB Kabupaten Wonogiri. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian kualitatif dengan metode diskripsi. Teknik pengumpulan data yang digunakan yaitu wawancara, observasi, dan dokumentasi. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa (1) Pemberdayaan dapat dilakukan melalui kegiatan pelatihan yang disesuaikan dengan kebutuhan sasaran program. Pemberdayaan pedagang pasar tradisional dalam pondok komunitas belajar di SKB Kabupaten Wonogiri dilaksanakan melalui kegiatan pelatihan tata boga dan tata rias. (2) Hasil program pondok komunitas belajar meliputi penambahan pengetahuan dan ketrampilan, adanya kesadaran untuk menambah pengetahuan dan ketrampilan, penambahan relasi, dan kegiatan usaha.(3) Faktor keberhasilan program meliputi perencanaan program yang matang, motivasi belajar warga belajar yang tinggi, ketepatan materi dan metode pembelajaran, narasumber yang berkompeten dan penggunaan strategi pembelajaran yang tepat, dan sarana prasarana yang memadai. Empowering Traditional Market Traders in the Learning Community Cottage in Community Learning Center (SKB) Wonogiri Abstract This research aims to describe: the implementation, results, and success factors of the empowerment traditional market traders in the learning community cottage in SKB Wonogiri.This research is qualitative research with description method. Data collection techniques used were interviews, observation, and documentation. The results show that (1) Empowerment can be done through training activities tailored to the needs of program targets. The empowerment of traditional market traders in the community learning cottage in SKB Kabupaten Wonogiri is conducted through culinary and makeup training activities; (2) The results of the traditional market traders empowerment program in the community cottage of learn include expansion of knowledge and skills, their awareness to increase knowledge and skills, and increase relationships and enterpreneur activities.(3) Success factors include planning programs, sound program, the motivation to learning participants of high learning, precision materials and methods of learning, competent resource persons and the use of appropriate learning strategies, and adequate infrastructure.

Trader's business behavior in the traditional market environment is reflected in the behavior that appears in the interaction built with other parties. The uniqueness that is highlighted is the trade situation that can not be separated from face to face communication directly, began to be supported by advances in the field of communication technology. Contribution in building interaction among the parties involved is able to generate trust so that communication occurs continuously. What is in the business of the traditional market shows a recognizable and recognizable identity, by seeing the communication style of the merchant, the utilization of the communication tool, the accessories used, and the means of transportation. They are all symbols inherent in the life of the merchant, reflecting the life of the merchant. Meaning of the symbol by others is not much different, because people have the ability to give meaning and assessment of a person. This is the uniqueness of the merchant that is reflected in the daily behavior in the traditional market environment.

Street vendors (PKL) is a form of business that has a high entrepreneurial spirit and is able to compete amid economic competition. The existence of street vendors tends to be motivated by the problem of lack of employment provided by the government, survival efforts, lack of business capital in the formal sector, complicated rules and bureaucracy, temporary work and heredity and profession, making PKL business as an alternative that can be done by the community. Street vendors or in English also called street traders are always included in the informal sector. PKL is a person who trades using a cart or holds his wares on roadside or sidewalks of city streets around shopping centers / shops, markets, recreation / entertainment centers, office centers and education centers, either permanently or half-settled, unofficial status or semi-official and carried out both morning, afternoon, evening and night in order to meet the needs of life by not involving other parties in a binding manner. The term street vendor was first known in the era of the Dutch East Indies, precisely when Governor-General Stanford Raffles came to power. The development of street vendors in the economic history of humankind experienced progress and modernity. Dissatisfaction with government policies related to the allocation of street vendors, gave birth to traders who went to the community directly, which was called the shock market.

In the economists' old conception of a market, perfection would arrive when all participants had complete knowledge. However, economists and psychologists have lately realized that ignorance and bias more accurately describe the state of human knowledge even around those hallowed moments of transactional decision making. In these new academic stories, these models of irrationality and bias often take the form of basic cognitive features or evolutionary mal-adaptations. However, it's just, as is often the case, that there is also a historically specific story about local culture to be told about ignorance. This paper will report back from field-work conducted with contemporary, computerized stock traders, develop a typology of the things they say they don't know, and then suggest what this has to do with some of the more durable features and behaviours of contemporary financial markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In first decade of 21st century reforms in agricultural markets were introduced in several developing countries of the world including improvement in tangible infrastructure as well as non-tangible reforms like farmer trainings, establishment of Agriculture Marketing System etc. The need for establishment and improvement of current Agriculture Market Information system (AMIS) for collection and dissemination was severely felt in 2007-08 after food crisis. This paper aims to review and evaluate the literature available on AMIS published from 1995 to 2018 showing the utility of market information and its impact on different stakeholders especially in developing countries. The use of AMIS, its components, working, economic utility of information for its different stakeholders like growers, policy makers and market functionaries and the challenges like cost involved, validity of data, accuracy and problems in its disseminations are reflected in this article. Review of literature findings showed that AMIS is useful tool to enhance the capacity of stakeholders for appropriate planning and timely decision making. Growers get assistance from AMIS in enhancing their bargaining power and improving market opportunities through timely availability of reliable market information while traders/market functionaries benefit by knowing latest prices of agriculture commodities and availability trends for sale and purchase of produce. By improving the quality of collected data, its meaningful interpretation, timely dissemination and proper understanding and execution policy makers can increase the benefits for all the stakeholders of value chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study carries out hedonic price analysis of goat's characteristics in five major markets of Pakistan. Data were collected about the various characteristics of each traded animal during the year 2016 through a structured questionnaire by using a personal interview method. A log-linear model was fitted to a sample of 500 observations in order to examine the determinants of observed goat prices. The results of the study showed that live weight, age, and sex were goat characteristics preferred by buyers and had significant positive effects on the prices of goats. Further, significant premiums were associated with the purpose of buying and marketplace. This study indicates that goat producers can improve their profitability when they target goat sales based on weight, marketing place, age, sex and time of sale, especially at the Muslim festival, Eid-ul-Azha. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the interplay between social and physical aspects of food retail in disaster and post-disaster contexts and discusses how it can inform better market support interventions and food retail modernization agendas. To this end, this paper draws on a case study analysis of three distinct marketplaces in metropolitan Port-au-Prince to explore aspects of food provision and access. The findings demonstrate the pertinence of beneficial reciprocal relationships among traders and between traders and customers, as well as the physical preconditions for the existence and maintenance of these relationships over time. The study also reviews the impacts of destroyed and changing physical infrastructure in disaster and post-disaster contexts on these social relationships. It concludes by calling for an acknowledgement of the interrelated attributes of solidarity, proximity and stability of existing marketplaces in urban planning and humanitarian practices in the efforts to improve urban food security and disaster recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Epilepsy is a serious childhood disease associated with stigmatization in the community. Despite the deleterious effect of the disease on childhood brain growth and development, the disease is treatable. Objective: The aim of this study is to document the knowledge of childhood epilepsy by community members using traders (market women and men in a popular market in Benin City, Nigeria) as a case study. Methodology: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out in April 2018. Data collection was by researcher-administered questionnaire. The respondents were traders (women and men) in Edaiken market Benin City Nigeria who were recruited consecutively during the period of the study. The analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 21, and the level of statistical significance of variables was set at 95% confidence level and P < 0.05. Results: Of the 500 respondents, 47 (9.4%) males and 453 (90.6%) females; mean age (standard deviation) was 35.3 ± 9.4 years. Total knowledge score of childhood epilepsy in this study was 27.6%. Only 116 (23.2%) study participants gave correctly a description of epileptic fits in a child. Although majority 71.0% said that epilepsy has the medical cure, none was able to mention any known drugs for the treatment of epilepsy and 72.6% said that they would use traditional remedies. Conclusion: The overall observed knowledge score of childhood epilepsy was low. Although most respondents stated that epilepsy has medical cure, majority preferred the traditional options for treatment. These findings, therefore, highlighted the need to enlighten the public about childhood epilepsy and its medical treatment options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The beginning of the millennium marked an increase in Chinese diplomatic and commercial ties with South Africa. This resulted in a 'new wave' of Chinese migration to the country, particularly to the city of Durban. These new Chinese entrepreneurs work in so called 'China Malls', created specifically for the trade of goods manufactured in China. Although Chinese migrant traders are visible in these spaces, their lives seem shrouded in secrecy. Through data obtained from a series of qualitative interviews and participant observation, this article explores the socio-economic experiences of Chinese migrant traders in the city of Durban. This study reveals that although social networks provide the impetus for creating and sustaining businesses, issues of insecurity, prejudice and language limits their ability to engage in meaningful social interaction within South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traders tend to be regarded as exploitative towards producers even without knowledge of their businesses. This study examines marketing costs, net-profits and return to invested capital of small ruminant traders from Marsabit County. Based on 84 transactions made between 2014 and 2016, we found low average profits and a high risk of economic losses among local long-distance traders. For traders working in partnerships of two or more, the profits and losses over the study period amounted to incomes barely exceeding Kenya's minimum wage. Although traders play an important role in linking pastoralists to markets, the precariousness they face hinders the sustainability of pastoral small ruminant value chains in Kenya. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing studies have fixated on the macroeconomic implications of Chinese engagements with Africa with relatively less attention to micro-level exchanges and the attendant social consequences. This paper captures the nuances of everyday dispositions and attitudes of Ghanaian traders toward Chinese entrepreneurial migrants relative to 'older and larger' immigrant trading groups (notably Indians, Lebanese and Nigerians). The study elicited data from local traders and key informants from trade unions, public institutions and academia. The findings indicate that Chinese merchants often had 'aggressive' and 'overly competitive' business style compared to other migrants and indigenes. Accordingly, several seemingly unresolvable underlying tensions ensued between the Chinese and other traders. It was evident that contextual elements such as trust and sense of fairness shaped the attitudes and degree of cordiality between the trading groups. Going forward, it will be prudent to focus not only on the legal and political ramifications of Chinese migratory flows but also develop measures to integrate the Chinese in African environment socially. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Markets in Ghana are largely managed by female traders organized into groups headed by a leader, often referred to as 'market queens' (MQs). In the public perception and in the limited literature, MQs have a negative connotation and are described as 'cartel' and 'mafia' institutions. This study aims to empirically assess their role in the market and society. Contrary to the current literature, our results show that MQs do not leverage their power to set market prices, but instead provide an important informal safety-net. They represent a crucial link to producers and are decisive for food security, as well as for the stability and resilience of the food system. Market women are perceived as powerful, yet they are neglected in the literature on gender and value chains. The findings challenge the negative portrayal of MQs and highlight the need to recognize market women as essential collective action, credit and savings groups. • Female traders contribute to food system stability, resilience, and food security. • Despite their critical role, there is a dominant negative discourse. • Contrary to the prevailing public perception, evidence of market monopoly was not found. • Female-led trader's associations have crucial safety-net functions. • The institutions differ among regions, ethnicities, and across markets typologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to show the existence in the city of Bogotá in the late eighteenth century and early nineteenth century of an important group of traders with great social, political and economic power that, acting as a body, ensured defending their interests before the viceregal authorities and the Consulado de Cartagena, and how that group broke up as a result of the political situation created by the crisis of the Spanish monarchy in 1808 and the independence of the Nuevo Reino de Granada.

We aim at mapping out a detailed framework that reveals the proportionate flow of cassava and its products along the value chain (VC). Furthermore, we aim at establishing the role of institutions and the linkages between institutions and other VC actors that influence the cassava VC in Uganda. We use both primary and secondary data obtained from four regions in Uganda. Results show that farmers, processors, transporters, traders, consumers and institutions are the major actors. There are four categories of institutions, viz, government, non-government, community based organisations and international agencies. Roles performed by institutions include: development and enforcement of policies, Research and Development (R&D), capacity building, and creation of market access linkages for cassava and its products. Findings reveal that there is no clear nexus and no coordination among farmers/producers, processors, traders, transporters and consumers. However, institutions are well coordinated and play various roles along the VC to influence the dynamics of actors. Policy-wise it is important to establish strong private-public partnerships to bridge the impaired linkages between the actors (farmers/producers, processors, traders, transporters, and consumers) and institutions. Strong partnerships are envisaged to reduce the associated transaction costs amongst the actors.

Informal trade has grown at an alarming rate in South Africa because of lack of employment opportunities in both the private and public sectors. This has resulted in many unemployed members of the population joining the informal business sector. The majority of people in this sector do not have skills that are needed in the formal employment sector, others are semi-literate and a small percentage has some level of qualification. Nevertheless, this sector is plagued by a number of challenges which this article presents. The article reports on the study that was conducted at Greater Letaba Municipality in Limpopo Province. The aim of the study was to investigate the challenges that were faced by informal traders in Greater Letaba Municipality in Limpopo Province in South Africa. The area was chosen because of its accessibility to the researchers and its potential to provide relevant and accurate information for the research project. Thus, a qualitative research method was used to collect data through face to face interviews. The research discovered that some of the challenges experienced by the informal traders in the area ranged from lack of support from the local municipality to structural challenges like lack of ablution facilities and limited access to electricity. Furthermore, other challenges concerned safety and health issues that were also gender based. Most of the traders in the area were women; an element which attest to the fact that it is difficult to find employment in the country when one is less educated and is also a woman.

Merchants in foreign lands trading in alien and occasionally hostile cities naturally banded together and often appointed a spokesman or leader to conduct affairs of common interest with the local authorities. In due course their role was taken over by consuls nominated by sending states and recognized by the receiving states but the transition was not always a smooth one, as is demonstrated by the evolution of Hospitaller Malta’s consular network in Early Modern Spain. Indeed, despite burgeoning trade links which resulted in the presence in eighteenth-century Spain of a widespread mercantile diaspora of Maltese traders the latter often had to do with makeshift arrangements for much of the century to defend and promote their interests.Los comerciantes en tierras extranjeras que comercian en ciudades hostiles y desconocidas, de manera natural se unían y designaban a un portavoz, o líder, para conducir los asuntos de interés común con las autoridades locales. Poco a poco su papel fue asumido por cónsules designados por los enviados diplomáticos de los Estados, y reconocidos por los países de destino, pero la transición no fue siempre igual, como lo demuestra la evolución de la red consular de la Orden Hospitalaria de Malta en la España de la Edad Moderna. De hecho, a pesar de los florecientes eslabones comerciales que se pueden observar en la España del siglo XVIII en la extendida diáspora mercantil de comerciantes malteses, posteriormente muchos de ellos tuvieron que hacer frente a acuerdos improvisados durante la mayor parte del siglo para defender y promover sus intereses.

The purpose of this study is to understand the financial behavior and the level of financial literacy at traders in one of the border areas of Indonesia, namely Bengkayang, West Kalimantan. The majority of previous studies examined the financial behavior of investors in the stock market. It raises the motivation to know the financial behavior of the general merchants, even the pedagogues in the border areas that are associated with their level of understanding in managing finances. The border area becomes an interesting object to be studied because of the government's commitment to build Indonesia from the periphery. By using approach and method of phenomenology research, it is concluded that (1) traders do not have written and systematic financial report that reflect daily income and expense, (2) traders have no commitment to save, (3) trader has negative habit in spending money, (4) the investment for future needs is not a priority, and (5) the limitations of knowledge, lifestyle, and the attitude of not wanting to develop is a factor supporting the formation of bad financial behavior patterns and low level of financial literacy. Various situations that describe the financial behavior and financial literacy are overcome with the role of government and private parties in creating synergies to increase public awareness. With continuous counseling and the availability of financial products that are internalized, good financial behavior and understanding of financial management can be realized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Model Agricultural Produce Marketing Act (APMC Act), 2003, and recent improvements to it through Model Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing (Promotion and Facilitating) Act (APLM), 2017, provide some hope in increasing efficiency in agricultural markets in India. The Model APLM Act advocates increased competition in the marketplace by allowing private markets, farmers' markets, and electronic-National Agricultural Markets (eNAM). Under eNAM, the Central Government introduced electronic trading in about 400 APMC markets in 2016 and connected them through uniform market platform in line with the e-markets of Karnataka introduced in 2012. This article examines experience of e-markets in Karnataka since 2012, with the intention to suggest improvements to eNAM. Results show that e-markets help increase competition, eliminate collusion among traders resulting in increased farmers' price and market arrivals. They facilitate competitive bidding and same day payments to farmers. However, there was some resistance from traders and commission agents as they felt that there were no benefits in e-auction compared to physical transactions. In addition, there was fear of taxation of on-line transactions. Aligning interests of all stakeholders, including farmers, traders and commission agents is the biggest hurdle in the implementation of eNAM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Hispania: Revista Española de Historia is the property of Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Cicer arietinum is a suitable crop in Bhiwani district of Haryana covering Siwani and Tosham Blocks were selected purposively on the basis of maximum production under gram crop. Further to study the marketing information and constraints in marketing of gram in Bhiwani, Dadri, Siwani and Tosham markets were selected. For studying the different marketing aspects 40 traders form 4 regulated markets from two blocks of Bhiwani district were randomly selected. From the findings of the research study in Bhiwani district traders, awareness on prices and arrivals in reference/other market and main market were of I-Rank, II-Rank, III-Rank and IV-Rank. Contacts in other markets with fellow traders formed major sources of market information in Bhiwani district. The daily prices were compiled manually and also written on the notices board for the information and use by the farmers visiting the market. The information is disseminated through various media like neighbors, newspapers, relatives etc. About 75% of the traders in the selected markets also faced difficulty on non-availability of information in required form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]