Understanding small business entrepreneurial activity in the Nigerian bottom of the pyramid and informal economy

Despite significant and rapid evolution of the bottom of the pyramid (BoP) and the informal economy concepts, there is still a lack of clarity regarding the nature of BoP populations being studied and how activities in BoP markets intersect with those in the informal economy. The current study contributes to the literature in this area by exploring the nature of small business (SB) activity at the BoP, specifically, within the Nigerian informal economy context. The research employed the street-by-street survey and spatial random sampling methods to collect data from indigenous SB entrepreneurs in the Nigerian informal economy. Findings highlight the unique characteristics of BoP and non-BoP entrepreneurs and the key factors underpinning their motivations for engaging in specific economic activities in the informal economy. These are discussed in relation to the literature, theory and practice.