Social interactions in periodic urban markets and their contributions to sustainable livelihoods: Evidence from Ghana

doi:10.1016/j.regsus.2023.10.002

Abstract

Abstract:

Periodic markets are an important aspect of local economies, providing a platform for farmers (producers), wholesalers, retailers, and consumers to interact face-to-face and exchange goods and services. These markets have been increasing in urban areas in Africa, Asia, and South America because of urbanization. The increase of periodic urban markets (PUMs) in urban areas is observed as an index of modernization, reflecting a response to transition process. However, there are limited studies on how social interactions in PUMs contribute to sustainable livelihoods. This study investigated the types of social interactions occurring in PUMs in Ghana, the benefits of social interactions for participants of PUMs, and how social interactions contribute to sustainable livelihoods. This research interviewed 162 participants, comprising 27 farmers (farmers were regarded as producers in this study), 61 retailers, 47 wholesalers from 9 selected PUMs across Ghana, and 27 officers from government institutions and non-governmental market associations to obtain their opinions. We analyzed the interview data using the NVivo software. The results showed that there are seven kinds of social interactions in PUMs, including (i) producer-wholesaler relationship, (ii) producer-consumer relationship, (iii) wholesaler-retailer relationship, (iv) retailer-consumer relationship, (v) trader-driver relationship, (vi) trader-institution relationship, and (vii) trader-international buyer relationship. We found that these social interactions in PUMs enhance sustainable livelihoods by supporting human, social, financial, natural, and physical assets of traders (traders refer to producers, wholesalers, and retailers in this study). Therefore, we concluded that the development of policies to improve PUMs could strengthen social interactions, enabling the achievement of sustainable livelihoods in developing countries.

Key words: Social interaction, Periodic urban markets (PUMs), Sustainable livelihood, Social asset, Financial asset, Physical asset, Human asset, Ghana

ADDAI Godfred, AMPONSAH Owusu, Dogkubong DINYE Romanus. Social interactions in periodic urban markets and their contributions to sustainable livelihoods: Evidence from Ghana[J]. Regional Sustainability, 2023, 4(4): 369-377.

Figures/Tables 3

Table 1

Fig. 1.

Table 2

List of benefits and types of social interactions occurring in PUMs."

Research objective	Theme	Description
Benefit of social interactions occurring in PUMs	Financial supports	Receiving money from trading and market associations.
	Price reduction or discount	Purchasing commodities on reduced price or discount from long-term cooperative traders.
	Credit purchase	Purchasing commodities on credit and paying later.
	Ready market	The opportunity traders get in selling a proportion of their farm products to known or regular customers.
	More choice for commodities	Access to many commodities to trade in PUMs.
	Learning different prices of commodities	Learning different prices of commodities for selling in PUMs.
	Monetary gift	Gift in the form of money that traders can receive from their customers in PUMs.
	Reduced transport cost	Getting a reduction in transport costs from long-term cooperative driver.
	Time management	Negotiating trade before market days of PUMs and arriving market on time for rural villagers who have transport difficulties.
	Security	Receiving protection from security officers in PUMs.
	Privilege for market space	The opportunities for members of market associations to get a suitable space in PUMs to sell commodities.
	Information sharing	Receiving market, agricultural, healthcare information in PUMs.
	Dealing in foreign currency	The chance to exchange goods and services with a foreigner in PUMs near international boundary.
Type of social interactions occurring in PUMs	Producer-wholesaler relationship	Relationships that occur between producers and wholesalers in PUMs.
	Producer-consumer relationship	Relationships that occur between producers and consumers in PUMs.
	Wholesaler-retailer relationship	Relationships that occur between wholesalers and retailers in PUMs.
	Retailer-consumer relationship	Relationships that occur between retailers and consumers in PUMs.
	Trader-driver relationship	Relationships that occur between traders and drivers in PUMs.
	Trader-institution relationship	Relationships that occur between traders and the various institutions in PUMs, including government institutions and market associations.
	Trader-international buyer relationship	Relationships that occur between traders and buyers from other countries.

Table 2

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Classification	Location	Dominant function	Example of markets
Regional periodic market	Big city at regional level	Wholesaling function	Tamale, Techiman, Kintampo, Sunyani, Ejura, Nkawkaw, and Mankessim
Central periodic market	District capital	Collecting and distributing manufacturing and agricultural goods	Bolgatanga, Bawku, Yendi, Ejisu, Tumu, Berekum, Sampa, and Preastea
Intermediate market	Small town	Connecting villages and cities	Drobo, Atebubu, Yeji, Berekum, Lawra, and Agormanya