Debunking the informality of Cross-Border Trade (CBT) in Southern Africa.
Debunking the informality of Cross-Border Trade (CBT) in Southern Africa The article seeks to debunk the common usage of the word ‘informal’ in relation to cross-border activities carried out by the native Africans across the borders. the author introduces the need to approach cross-border trade activities from a constructivist view of formality and recognize it as a formal sector. This has been necessitated by continued labels put on this trade despite its positives to the region as a whole. To Devey & Valoidia (2009)when studying cross-border trade formality and informality should be viewed as a continuum and not as exclusive dichotomies The CBT involves the movement of the physical movement of not only goods but also people across borders. Cross-Border Trading has remained an important form of trade in many developing countries. CBT according to studies assisted in the cushioning of the African continent from the global financial...