世界银行-非正规部门的组织结构如何？：商业协会在西非微型企业中的作用（英）

Policy Research Working Paper11101How Organized Is the Informal Sector? The Role of Business Associations in Microenterprises in West Africa Clément JoubertKathleen BeegleDevelopment Economics Development Research GroupApril 2025 Public Disclosure AuthorizedPublic Disclosure AuthorizedPublic Disclosure AuthorizedPublic Disclosure AuthorizedProduced by the Research Support TeamAbstractThe Policy Research Working Paper Series disseminates the findings of work in progress to encourage the exchange of ideas about development issues. An objective of the series is to get the findings out quickly, even if the presentations are less than fully polished. The papers carry the names of the authors and should be cited accordingly. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this paper are entirely those of the authors. They do not necessarily represent the views of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/World Bank and its affiliated organizations, or those of the Executive Directors of the World Bank or the governments they represent.Policy Research Working Paper 11101Although microenterprises are the most prevalent employer in Africa, boosting their productivity remains a development challenge. Theoretically, microenterprise business associa-tions could foster technology, improve access to inputs, pool risk, ensure coordination, and facilitate credit for businesses. However, basic facts about their scope and roles are missing from the literature. This study establishes descriptive results to shed light on the nature of these networks in West Africa. First, fewer than 10 percent of informal business owners are members, although there is large industry variation. Second, members tend to be older and larger incumbent businesses with male owners, potentially stifling competi-tion and entrenching gender gaps. Third, most associations are more aptly described as providers of excludable, indus-try-specific services than as vehicles for collective action and advocacy. Fourth, membership helps explain performance differences among observably similar businesses. Members are more productive, profitable, and financially included relative to similar non-members, although such premia only materialize in a few industries. This paper is a product of the Development Research Group, Development Economics. It is part of a larger effort by the World Bank to provide open access to its research and make a contribution to development policy discussions around the world. Policy Research Working Papers are also posted on the Web at http://www.worldbank.org/prwp. The authors may be contacted at cjoubert@worldbank.org. How Organized Is the Informal Sector? The Role of Business Associations in Microenterprises in West Africa Clément Joubert and Kathleen Beegle JEL classification: D22, O16 Keywords: microenterprises, Africa, business associations, productivity Contacts: Joubert: World Bank (cjoubert@worldbank.org) and Beegle: World Bank (kbeegle@wo