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A Study of Small Neighborhood Tienditas in Central America

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 September 2022

Michael J. Pisani  and
David W. Yoskowitz
Michael J. Pisani
Affiliation:
Central Michigan University
David W. Yoskowitz
Affiliation:
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
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Abstract

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We describe and benchmark tienditas (in-home convenience-like retail stores) and the tiendita business sector using a large sample of 850 tienditas from Nicaragua and El Salvador. Three research questions concerning tiendita business dynamism, informality, and competitive scope shape our article. In general, we find that tienditas may range from subsistence operations to dynamic business enterprises primarily run by female microentrepreneurs; they typically skirt government oversight; and they compete fiercely in a monopolistically competitive business environment.

Resumen

Resumen

Este artículo describe y compara tienditas (tiendas de barrio que funcionan dentro de la casa) y el sector empresarial de tienditas, utilizando una gran muestra de 850 tienditas de Nicaragua y El Salvador. Este trabajo plantea tres preguntas investigativas sobre el dinamismo empresarial de tienditas, la informalidad y el alcance competitivo. Por lo general, encontramos que la existencia de las tienditas varía tanto para la subsistencia como para empresas de negocios dinámicos dirigidas principalmente por mujeres micro-empresarias, las tienditas esquivan la supervisión del gobierno y las tienditas compiten ferozmente en un entorno empresarial de competencia monopolística.

Type
Research Article
Information
Latin American Research Review , Volume 47 , Issue S1: Special Issue , 2012 , pp. 116 - 138
Copyright
Copyright © 2012 by the Latin American Studies Association

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