COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF BARTER TRADE HURDLES: PERSPECTIVES FROM PRACTITIONERS AND NON-PRACTITIONERS
Keywords:
Barter trade, Economic exchange, Contemporary commerce, Market dynamics, Economic developmentAbstract
Barter trade, often perceived as a relic of ancient economies, persists as a significant mode of exchange in contemporary commerce across the globe. Despite Adam Smith's characterization of barter as primitive, recent reports indicate its enduring relevance in both developed and developing economies. The Universal Barter Group (2008) highlighted its prevalence, with a substantial portion of global business conducted on a non-cash basis in 2004, involving a considerable share of entities listed on major stock exchanges and small businesses in the United States. While precise statistics on contemporary barter trading are scarce, indications from sources such as the Small Business Association (2008) and the International Reciprocal Trade Association (IRTA) (2009) suggest a growing trend. This resurgence, noted by researchers since the early 1990s, raises questions among economists, as observed by Davis (2009) and Carlin et al. (1999). Understanding the persistence and resurgence of barter trade in modern economies is essential for comprehending its implications on market dynamics, economic development, and policy formulation.