In the Technological Age: The Internet and the Performance of Micro-Enterprises in Togo.
Micro-enterprises (MEs) are important players in job creation and global economic development. However, in developing countries, most fail to realise their growth potential due to challenges that include informality and a lack of quality human capital. The internet, by increasing information flows a...
| Published in: | Journal of Development Studies Vol. 61; no. 3; pp. 459 - 485 |
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
| Format: | Article |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Mar2025
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | View this record in EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ssf&AN=183128449&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: ssf uiTerm: 183128449 longDbName: Social Sciences Full Text (H.W. Wilson) uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: jinfo: jid: 00220388 JDS jtl: Journal of Development Studies issn: 00220388 maglogo: N pubinfo: dt: Mar2025 vid: 61 iid: 3 pid: 377 pub: Taylor & Francis Ltd artinfo: ui: 183128449 10.1080/00220388.2024.2413084 ppf: 459 ppct: 26 formats: fmt: – @attributes: type: T db: hlh ui: 183128449 – @attributes: type: P db: hlh ui: 183128449 tig: atl: In the Technological Age: The Internet and the Performance of Micro-Enterprises in Togo. aug: au: Gbandi, Tchapo Couchoro, Mawuli K. Afawubo, Komivi Noglo, Yawo Agbenyegan Djibril, Afissou affil: Center for Research in Applied Economics and Organization Management (CREAMO), University of Lomé, Lomé, Togo Economic Department, European Center for Research in Financial Economics and Business Management (CEREFIGE), University of Lorraine, Nancy, France Economic Department, University of Paris Nanterre, France Centre d'analyse et de prospective sur les Afriques (CAP-Afriques), UQAM, Canada Economic Department, University of Lomé, Lomé, Togo su: Internet access Service industries Electronic commerce Internet speed Wireless Internet sug: subj: Internet access Service industries Electronic commerce Service Establishment Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers Electronic shopping and mail-order houses Electronic Shopping Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) Internet speed Wireless Internet keyword: internet ME performance service sector internet ME performance service sector ab: Micro-enterprises (MEs) are important players in job creation and global economic development. However, in developing countries, most fail to realise their growth potential due to challenges that include informality and a lack of quality human capital. The internet, by increasing information flows and reducing transaction costs, can help MEs to develop. This study assesses the effect of the internet on MEs' performance in the service sector in Togo, using a large sample of 23,542 observations from the latest General Census of Businesses (RGE, 2017–2018), and exposes related channels and mechanisms. We find that MEs that adopt and use the internet are more productive than those that do not. This result remains robust to different regression methods such as instrumental variables and treatment-effects estimations. Complementary analyses show the positive effect of internet channels through applications such as e-mail, websites and e-business. We also find evidence that MEs with a Fixed internet connection perform better than those with a Mobile internet connection. Our investigations also yield interesting results regarding Togolese regions, service sub-sectors, managers' characteristics and MEs' status. This article thus highlights the need to promote digital development to enhance MEs' performance in Togo. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: Article src: R language: English refInfo: copyright: @attributes: flag: N holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
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