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Abstract
Interspatial and intertemporal grain distribution in Ghana is a private sector
activity carried out mainly by traders. These traders sometimes collude to maximize their
joint profits. By so doing they influence the conduct of the grains market. To examine the
effect of their actions on the informal maize market in Ghana, a spatial equilibrium model
was estimated under three scenarios: (1) Perfect competition, (2) Cournot-Narsh
conjectures, and (3) Collusion. The results indicate that imperfect competition distorts
grain flows, reduces consumer welfare and depresses traders’ sales revenue. Collusive
behavior of traders, on the other hand, causes the greatest distortion of grain flows as well
as trader and consumer welfare. These results draw attention to policy makers and
development agents to educate traders against using their associations to foster collusion.