Teaching

Ethiopian Open Rural Markets

Master Thesis by Bastiaan Woudenberg
Study Programme Integrated Urban Development & Design
2019

In this thesis Bastiaan Woudenberg examines open markets in rural Ethiopia. Based on a literature research he develops a theoretical model for the functioning of these markets and tests the model empirically using three cases.

 

Rural open markets in Ethiopia offer a lot of economic potential and could prove to be crucial in the urbanisation and modernization of the Ethiopian hinterland. This thesis aims to investigate the relation between the spatial characteristics of rural open markets and their economic significance. Respectively an aspect that has been underexposed by academic research versus an aspect that has been the subject of a multitude of studies.

By performing a literature review, a hypothetical model was established showing how open markets in Ethiopia are spatially integrated into their context and how this relates to economics. Secondly, the model was verified by a case study that has been conducted on the open markets in the settlements of Kon, Arbit and Geragera in the North Wollo zone. Both the literature review and the results from the case studies indicated that rural open markets in Ethiopia form a central aspect in the lives of a large share of the Ethiopian population and are currently crucial hubs in the agricultural economy. Because of its large catchment area the rural open market is the ideal platform to reach large amounts of rural residents which live in remote areas that are difficult to access. Therefore, it could be the potential hub from which measurements that improve the livelihoods of the rural population of Ethiopia can be taken.

Thesis PDF - Ethiopian Open Rural Markets