Information from markets near and far: Mobile phones and agricultural markets in Niger

    Collection:
    Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
    Contributers:
    Aker, J. C. (author)
    Format:
    Journal article
    Publication Date:
    2010-06-01
    URL:
    https://pubs.aeaweb.org/doi/pdfplus/10.1257/app.2.3.46
    Published:
    United States: American Economic Association
    Location:
    Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 204 Document Number: D12456
    Journal Title:
    American Economic Journal: Applied Economics
    Journal Title Details:
    Vol. 2(3)
    Subject Term:
    development, markets, mobile communication systems, productivity, small farmers, small farms, grain, agricultural, mobile phone, cell phones, cellphones, and Niger (Africa, Western)
    Notes:
    14 pages, Price dispersion across markets is common in developing countries. Using novel market and trader-level data, this paper provides estimates of the impact of mobile phones on price dispersion across grain markets in Niger. The introduction of mobile phone service between 2001 and 2006 explains a 10 to 16 percent reduction in grain price dispersion. The effect is stronger for market pairs with higher transport costs. (JEL O13, O33, Q11, Q13)

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