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The paper unpacks the "black box" of informal institutions and theorizes about the role of informal networks in channeling continuity and change in informal institutions. Specifically, we argue that the persistence of informal institutions depends on the functionalities of the informal networks upon which they rest. When informal institutions are enacted by informal networks that are "relatively affective" and "relatively closed," their persistence is higher than the persistence of informal institutions that are enacted by "relatively open" and "relatively instrumental" networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entrepreneurship scholars often lament the lack of economic growth in contexts of poverty and informality. We propose that this dismal assessment, as well as subsequent prescriptions to address it, flow from a narrow epistemological approach to informality based on absence, where the lack of (Western) market-supporting legal and regulatory institutions explain missing economic growth at the firm level. In contrast, we build a theoretical approach grounded in presence, proposing that a more comprehensive incorporation of existing institutions may reveal less visible, individual level types of entrepreneurial growth occurring in informal economies. To do so, we conceptualize informal economies as institutional interfaces built of "bits and pieces" from market and nonmarket institutions. We propose that the configuration of these interfaces influences the cultural toolkits of inhabitant entrepreneurs, which in turn shapes how they grow in an informal economy. Specifically, we link three dimensions of institutional complexity at the institutional interface (jurisdictional influence, fragmentation, and incompatibility) to three types of growth (direct, dispersed, and disguised) that vary in terms of visibility. Our theory animates understanding of diverse informal economies and the entrepreneurial activity that exists within them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the impact of insurance services and the sustainability of businesses in the Nigerian informal sector. The analysis relies on extant literature sourced from various sources to develop an understanding of the current trends of insurance services in the Nigerian informal sector and develop a suggested model for improved insurance service delivery in the Nigerian informal sector. Findings show that stakeholder commitment is necessary for better impact of insurance services in the sector. The conclusion emphasizes the possibility of business sustainability through consolidated insurance services among stakeholders in the sector. Part of the suggestion for further research is the need for a wider focus on insurance practices both in the formal and informal sectors of the Nigerian economy. This is coupled with an exploratory view on the impact of policy development on insurance support to business activities in the Nigerian informal sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the nexus between shadow economy and income inequality in the West African region. The study applies second-generation panel estimation techniques to analyze the effect and the direction of causation between the variables. The results reveal that the shadow economy reduces income inequality in the region in both short-run and long-run estimations. A similar result is documented when alternative estimation techniques are employed. In addition, the panel causality results show a bidirectional relationship between shadow economy and income inequality in the West African economy. The implications of the study are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) is not only a life-threatening but also life changing event that happens suddenly, the effects extends beyond the TSCI survivors to include their families. In Rwanda to the best knowledge of authors, there is no published information on the epidemiology of TSCI. The aim of this study was therefore to determine the incidence rate, etiology and injury characteristics of TSCI. Methods: All survivors of acute TSCI who met the inclusion criteria were prospectively recruited for a one-year period. The International Spinal Cord Injury Core Data Set was used to collect the minimum set of variables to facilitate worldwide comparison of epidemiological data, while the International Standards for the Neurological Classification was used to categorize TSCI according to the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS). Data were collected by trained physiotherapists. Study design: A prospective, open-ended, cohort study design. Setting: All referral hospitals within the Republic of Rwanda. Results: Overall, 122 adult individuals sustained a TSCI between 10th October 2019 until 9th October 2020 and all consented to take part in the study. The male-to-female ratio was 3.9:1, and the mean age was 42.5 (SD = ±14.8) years. The crude incidence rate of TSCI was 22.2 per million people (95% CI, 18.4--26.5) with significant differences in sex-adjusted rates for all age groups while men 46 years of age and older presented with the highest incidence. The leading causes of TSCI were falls (73.8%), followed by road traffic accidents (18.9%). Moreover, SCI lesions of the cervical region (n = 69) were the most common, followed by the lumbosacral region (n = 27). Fifty-one (41.8%) participants were diagnosed as complete injury, i.e., AIS A, while incomplete injury category C constituted 35 (28.7%). Conclusion: The incidence and etiology of TSCI in Rwanda are comparable to worldwide estimates and figures. Largely, the etiology of TSCI are preventable as it is caused due to falls and road traffic accidents. There is a need to consider preventive strategies and policies on activities that predispose people to falls. Policies should focus largely on occupational health and safety in both formal and informal sectors of work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Does terrorism contribute to the growth of the shadow economy? While extensive literature has delved into the causes and consequences of terrorism, little has been studied on its impact on the shadow economy. Employing data on terrorism and the shadow economies of 116 countries from 1990 to 2017, we demonstrate that terrorism results in an increase in the size of the shadow economy and that the effect is larger in autocracies. We argue that the economic and social impacts of terrorism create environments that reinforce both exit and exclusion factors through the erosion of institutional trust and social capital, ultimately incentivizing or compelling actors to seek alternative methods of economic activities. Furthermore, a lack of free and horizontal information-sharing venues to address public fear and repressive counterterrorism measures in autocracies further hamper the economic pursuits of individuals, businesses, and foreign investors, facilitating their engagement in informal economic activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous international development targets aim to encourage and formalize remittances, because they can support development efforts while controlling and monitoring illicit capital flows. Despite continued efforts to promote formal remittance channels, informal remittances flourish among specific population groups. This study uses data from the Canadian Study on International Money Transfers to analyze the determinants of remittance modality or channel choice. Previous empirical work tends to classify remittances as either formal or informal. In contrast, this article considers a variety of channels. It shows that the dichotomization of formal versus informal remittances masks crucial differences across remittance channels. Due to Canada's unique geographical positionality, cash transfers operate distinctly from informal methods despite often being treated as a homogenous group in other studies. Interestingly, remitters are also more likely to use formal money transfer operators (most of which offer cash pickup options to recipients) than informal channels to send funds to countries with larger informal sectors. Within the context of Canadian remittance outflows, this invalidates the frequent assumption that more informal destination country economies push remitters to opt for informal transfer methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article undertakes a socio-legal analysis of India's changing labour laws and situates migrant workers within the broader context of the changing relations between state, capital, and labour amid the reforms that were introduced in 2019–2020. It illustrates the precarity of migrant workers and the possibility of their legal exclusion from the revised labour codes, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic-led lockdowns. The new codes reduced the number of establishments under regulation and diluted provisions that can hold contractors and employers accountable, which increases the scope for exploitation of workers and has serious implications for the rights of migrants. The labour law reforms, we argue, appear to have favoured capital in its relations with workers and have increased the degree of informality in a wide range of industries. Inter-state migrant workers may find themselves excluded from protective provisions that hold employers accountable for their treatment and this may make them more vulnerable in the informal sector. The article concludes that this push by the state to boost the 'ease of doing business' via precarious forms of employment and whittling away the protections of inter-state migrant workers may be far more detrimental than expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study illustrates how incarcerated Latinx people create alternative social worlds or queer worldmakings as they negotiate everyday life in prison. I explore how these queer Latinx worldmakings are created and lived through the formation of chosen families or familias and the organizing of family dinners. Latinx queer worldmakings are temporary productions of social worlds that facilitate navigating life in the present while being queer and Latinx to resist as well as reconfigure disciplining heteronormative and white supremacist processes. It is the process of performing and creating a present that is oriented towards the future. I argue that such queer Latinx worldmakings counter white heteronormative social-spatial norms and carcerality, while also providing important lessons on what it means to live, love, and make place in and beyond the prison. The Latinx incarcerated women participants queered prison life by engaging in informal economies, negotiating relationships with correction officers, and securing ingredients for family dinners. By using an autoethnographic/testimonio approach and conversations with an incarcerated family member and friends, I explore two ways Latinx queer worldmakings are enacted: the creation of chosen families, and the organizing of family dinners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates whether and how digital economy (especially digital platforms and digital finance) restrains the informal economic activities in China measured by the MIMIC (multiple indicators multiple causes) model. Using Chinese provincial panel data from 1995 to 2020, we find that the average size of China's provincial informal economy displays a five-stage fluctuation, ranging from 13.63 % to 17.53 %. More importantly, we uncover a robust "inverted U-shaped" nonlinear relationship between the digital platform development and the informal economy, with a turning point of 0.4189. Initially, the development of digital platforms increases informal economic activities by disrupting traditional sectors, causing new types of tax evasion, challenging regulators and raising digital crime. However, beyond a certain threshold, digital platforms can overcome these problems through more job creations and improved regulation. Meanwhile, the digital financial development is proved to have a negative impact on the informal economy because it can offer much more advantages in addressing informality such as making payments transparent, easing credit constraints, raising total income, helping governments reach people and businesses. Our study provides convincing evidence and valuable advice for policymakers when developing digital economy to curb the informal economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sharing economy is a modern digitalized alternative to traditional economic relationships and is developing and growing dynamically. The most positive evidence suggests that the sharing economy could match the traditional market economy in terms of the volume of transactions. Globally, the main sharing economy markets are China, the USA and Europe, and within the EU consumer interest in sharing services is high as 52% are aware of sharing options and 17% have used them at least once. According to data, the most developed sharing subsectors in the EU are shared accommodation and shared mobility. As these are the main sub-sectors also in the tourism industry, it is obvious that the sharing economy has entered the tourism industry and is rearranging the traditional tourist business. Therefore, the main purpose of the current study is to investigate the tourism application perspectives of the sharing economy on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast as the latter is the highest developed tourist area in Bulgaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The massive migration of the rural population, triggered by agrarian distress, to the more developed regions of India for lowly paid jobs in the informal sector has been one of the most striking phenomena in neoliberal India. The last two decades have also witnessed an unprecedented out-migration of rural population from the northeast Indian state of Assam to the metropolises and growth centres in other parts of India in search of livelihood. Based on a study conducted in Bengaluru among migrant workers from Assam, this article examines the networks that facilitate such out-migration, its circular nature, and their working and living conditions in the city. The remittances of the migrants provide only temporary relief to their families in the villages and despite their periodic return to the village with the intent to settle down, poverty and lack of alternative livelihood force them to migrate to the city again. The oscillation between the dehumanising conditions of their life in the city and the economic hardship in the village continues without any reprieve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research note investigates citation bias using probabilities of zero citations, total citations, and citations per year since publication from Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar for all 759 articles on the economics of race and crime as extracted from EconLit for the period 1970–2020 and reported in previous work by Mason et al. Our citation analysis considers two main variables of interest: (a) whether the article was published in the Review of Black Political Economy and (b) whether one or more of an article's authors were Black. We report the results of linear probability models of zero citations and negative binomial models of total citations and citations per year since publication. We also estimate the average marginal effects for publication in the Review of Black Political Economy and Black-authored articles on racism or racial discrimination findings. The results of this research note validate and reconfirm the findings of Mason et al. We find evidence of systematically lower citations of articles published in the Review of Black Political Economy. In addition, we find that articles with Black authors are more likely to include findings of discrimination or racism. Articles published in the Review are also more likely to find racial discrimination, but these journal effects are not always statistically significant at the 5% level. These findings are consistent across citation engines, model specifications, and estimation techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: It is widely argued that money laundering (ML) is not a new phenomenon and the pervasiveness of ML is associated with some severe economic, social and political costs. Due to the lack of studies on the ML's issue in the UAE, this study aims to examine the determinants of ML in the country between 1975 and 2020. Design/methodology/approach: The autoregressive distributed lag bounds testing results demonstrate the presence of long-run relationship between ML and the selected macroeconomics variables. The analysis is validated by the dynamic ordinary least squares, the fully modified ordinary least squares and the canonical co-integration regression estimators. Findings: The estimation result reveals that while the real estate market, outflow of money, arms procurement and size of the underground economy influences the size of ML positively, gold trade, the level of financial development and the size of economic activities are negatively associated with ML, both in the short- and long-run. Originality/value: Up to date from a country-level analysis, no study has been devoted to the ML in UAE, except for Aljassmi et al. (2023). To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first to investigate the determinants of laundered money in the UAE economy. Based on these outcomes, strategies and measures which will deter the laundering of illicit funds through the real estate and gold market, remittance system, financial system and arms procurement contracts in the UAE are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research was to estimate the influencing factors on the size of the underground economy using fuzzy logic. The illegal nature of the underground economy also limits private investment and economic growth. For example, companies that operate in the underground economy are not able to use the institutions that support the market economy (judiciary and courts), which makes them less inclined to invest. Therefore, it can be said that one of the most important issues that should be considered in economic policies is the underground sector of the economy. The research method in this research is of a descriptive-survey type, and the type of research in the current research is causal and practical in terms of the purpose, because the expected results of the research can be used in examining the dimensions of the underground economy. It is used in university and economic resources. To estimate the index of the underground economy and examine its trend using fuzzy logic, it is necessary to perform these steps; Accurate determination of indicators, fuzzification, definition of basic rules, inference engine, determinism and sensitivity analysis. To estimate the index of the underground economy with fuzzy logic, they are divided into three sub-criteria including the financial sector, the monetary sector and the real sector. The results showed that the informal sector constitutes an important part of the economy and the labor market in developing countries. This sector plays a major role in production, creating employment and income by producing goods and services, transferring skills by newcomers to the sector, reducing unemployment and using individual capital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A plethora of empirical work has aimed to investigate the determinants of the shadow economy over the last few years. The impacts of government spending on the shadow economy have been explored. However, the effect of a moderating factor that affects this nexus has been largely ignored in the existing literature. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to explore the moderating role of government effectiveness on public spending on the education–shadow economy nexus, in eight Southeast Asian countries from 2001 to 2017. This paper uses the dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS), fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS), and the panel causality approach to analyze the data. Empirical findings from this paper indicate that public spending on education and government effectiveness negatively impacts the size of the shadow economy. Interestingly, government effectiveness serves as a critical catalyst in shaping the effect of government spending on education. We also observed that economic growth and foreign direct investment have significant negative effects, while unemployment and inflation have significant positive effects on the shadow economy. Additionally, the causality results confirmed the presence of bidirectional causality in public spending education, government effectiveness, economic growth, foreign direct investment, and unemployment in the shadow economy. This study recommends that governments and policymakers pursue policies and programs that invest more in education and enhance government effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to conduct a systematic review of existing literature on ageism among older informal workers, as most studies have focused on formal work settings. Specifically, it seeks to identify the scope and characteristics of ageism that older informal workers encounter and its influence on their work and well-being. Design/methodology/approach: This paper follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) framework to conduct a systematic review. Eleven studies from six databases were included and thematically analysed. Findings: The findings revealed four main themes: the contextual nature of ageism, dimensions of work-related ageism, navigating work-related challenges, and effects on well-being. These themes highlight that, despite being perceived as experienced and reliable, older informal workers face exclusion from work opportunities as they are perceived as unproductive and less capable of acquiring new skills. These negative perceptions significantly impacted their willingness to continue working and overall well-being. Practical implications: The findings offer an overview of extant research and the direction for future research and policy interventions to address ageism among older informal workers. The findings are crucial for enhancing older workers' quality of life, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where population ageing is the fastest. Originality/value: This study is one of the few to systematically explore and evaluate empirical evidence on ageism in the informal work sector. It thus expands existing knowledge and understanding of the phenomenon of ageism in a least explored context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study contributes to the sustainable development literature by investigating the impact of the shadow economy on sustainable development in a panel of 30 African countries over a period of 2000–2017. The study employs parametric and nonparametric panel estimation techniques. The novel moment panel quantile regression method is also used to produce robust outcomes across the distribution of the explained variable in the presence of location shifters, scale variants, endogeneity, and outliers. The results reveal that the shadow economy reduces sustainable development in Africa. The study concludes that conscious efforts are needed to ensure that the shadow economy issue is addressed to enjoy the benefits of sustainable development in the African region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the outcomes of internal migration in Indonesia, specifically focusing on the intersecting themes of ethnicity, informality, and entrepreneurial migration. We examine how Javanese migrants perceive the benefits and challenges of their migration and subsequent engagement in the informal sector as self‐employed migrants/small business owners in and around Kupang’s traditional markets. We use a sequential mixed‐methods approach (a household survey with a structured interview [n=344] and in‐depth/semi‐structured interviews [n=28] in 2020). Drawing on Hein de Haas’s framework on the internal dynamics of migration, we explore the multifaceted outcomes of entrepreneurial migration beyond the economic consequences addressed in similar studies. The perceived positive impacts of this migration include sufficient income to cover daily needs and children’s education, as well as new remittances and employment opportunities for communities in Java and Kupang. However, these broadly empowering trends were set against the experience of those migrants who, because of less informal sector labour experience, could not easily negotiate their settlement in a new host environment, leading to varied adverse consequences. Ultimately, then, the article highlights the importance of social networks, knowledge, and reciprocity in supporting the successful establishment of entrepreneurial migrants in emerging destinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global COVID-19 pandemic, which began in March 2020, has significantly impacted global health, causing symptoms ranging from mild flu to severe illness and death. This condition has also severely hampered economic activities, particularly in marginalized communities such as the Gunungsewu Karst Area in Gunungkidul, Indonesia. This study aimed to analyze the spatial distribution of economic resilience during COVID-19. The study employed a combined approach, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative methods. Qualitative data collection was conducted through expert interviews to determine the weight of economic resilience factors using the Analytic Hierarchy Process. Quantitative data was gathered through questionnaires. Data processing of the economic resilience index distribution was carried out using Geographic Information Systems. The results indicate that 81.36% of respondents in the marginal land of Gunungsewu earn less than the regional minimum wage, with a monthly income of less than 113.98 USD. The highest level of education for 34.69% of respondents is elementary school, and 95.92% are employed in the informal sector. The economic resilience index comprises six factors: socio-economic conditions, infrastructure, institutions, communities, natural resource utilization, and information and communication technology use. The spatial distribution of the economic resilience index varies among villages in the study area, with three distinct patterns: high-class resilience (50%), moderate-class resilience (37.5%), and low-class resilience (12.5%). This study highlights the predominance of high-class economic resilience in the research area, despite its marginal land status. Spatial analysis of the economic resilience index is crucial for informing targeted policies aimed at disaster risk reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given that housing is a key element for security, access to resources, and the integration of migrant individuals, we inquire, concerning the rental market, about the forms of vulnerability to which they are exposed and the resources used (or not) to confront them. We present the case of Lima, the city that has received the largest number of Venezuelan migrants (1.1 million) in recent years. As an exploratory study, we conducted 37 interviews with tenants (27 Venezuelan migrants, 10 Peruvians). We analyzed the cases for each group, seeking common problems and strategies to address them. We found that Venezuelan individuals face challenges in searching for and staying in housing not only due to their restricted citizenship and employment in the informal sector, but also due to their limited access to social resources. As a result, they are more exposed to critical events and must confront them on their own. Consequently, their vulnerability is greater, and their housing tenure is always unstable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How much do financial constraints delay entrepreneurship and how much do they cost households in terms of foregone welfare in countries with large informal sectors and poorly developed financial markets? This paper uses a standard, partial equilibrium, dynamic model of occupational choice under financial constraints to derive the optimal time that households take to switch from subsistence work to entrepreneurship. Using data from the informal sector in Cameroon, the paper first tests the implications of the model with reduced-form, survival regression models and then structurally estimates key parameters using maximum likelihood. Prospective entrepreneurs would need to work for an average of 7 years as subsisters to accumulate the minimum savings required to start their micro-enterprise. Among the potential entrepreneurs about 53% are subsisters implying a missing proportion of entrepreneurs of 10.9% among which more than 32% have wealth below their estimated poverty traps. This means that despite their talent and ability to save a sizable fraction of the population will never start a profitable firm, given the tight collateral constraints in the economy. Finally, the paper conducts counterfactual simulations based on the estimated model. The results show substantial welfare gains from relaxing credit constraints, accruing mostly to high talent individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinhoyi in Zimbabwe is used as a case study to explore the potential of secondary cities in addressing urban challenges. This study is significant considering that while African cities are rapidly urbanizing, narratives in African urbanism focus more on large cities and metros. Adopting a qualitative research approach, data for this study were collected from interviews with 15 key informants and a review of policies and development plans. The study reveals that, albeit challenges bedeviling Chinhoyi, there is potential for sustained growth through maximizing local opportunities, including industrial capability, supporting the informal sector, promoting mixed-use development, and empowering the local authority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the impact of the COVID-19-induced economic crisis on tribal street vendors in Aizawl, India, using the framework of resilience theory. The paper uses a case-study approach to examine how street vendors recouped their economic losses after the relaxed lockdown phase during the region's most celebrated Christmas and New Year festivals. A total of 74 street vendors were interviewed for this study using a semi-structured questionnaire. The study discusses that despite the relaxation of lockdowns, vendors faced extreme challenges in earning their daily wages, causing an inability to satisfy basic requirements like food, paying rent, and experiencing harsher workplace conditions. We observe that street vendors had heterogeneous motives toward street vending and were not driven by a single theoretical perspective. We present that most street vendors during the lockdowns reflect resilience in their businesses, socioeconomic, and workplace conditions through their indigenous coping mechanisms and social networking. We find that street vendors displayed entrepreneurial qualities during the lockdowns by either changing the goods they sold or how they were sold before the pandemic. The study recommends different economic and financial policies for street vendors at the ground level such as improving basic workplace amenities, safety, and awareness among street vendors and consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children account for a significant proportion of antibiotic consumption in low- and middle-income countries, with overuse occurring in formal and informal health sectors. This study assessed the prevalence and predictors of residual antibiotics in the blood of children in the Mbeya and Morogoro regions of Tanzania. The cross-sectional community-based survey used two-stage cluster sampling to include children aged under 15 years. For each child, information on recent illness, healthcare-seeking behaviour, and use of antibiotics, as well as a dried blood spot sample, were collected. The samples underwent tandem mass spectrometry analysis to quantify the concentrations of 15 common antibiotics. Associations between survey variables and the presence of residual antibiotics were assessed using mixed-effects logistic regression. In total, 1742 children were surveyed, and 1699 analysed. The overall prevalence of residual antibiotics in the blood samples was 17.4% (296/1699), the highest among children under the age of 5 years. The most frequently detected antibiotics were trimethoprim (144/1699; 8.5%), sulfamethoxazole (102/1699; 6.0%), metronidazole (61/1699; 3.6%), and amoxicillin (43/1699; 2.5%). The strongest predictors of residual antibiotics in the blood were observed presence of antibiotics at home (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.9; 95% CI, 2.0–4.1) and reported consumption of antibiotics in the last 2 weeks (aOR = 2.5; 95% CI, 1.6–3.9). However, half (145/296) of the children who had residual antibiotics in their blood, some with multiple antibiotics, had no reported history of illness or antibiotic consumption in the last 2 weeks, and antibiotics were not found at home. This study demonstrated a high prevalence of antibiotic exposure among children in Tanzanian communities, albeit likely underestimated, especially for compounds with short half-lives. A significant proportion of antibiotic exposure was unexplained and may have been due to unreported self-medication or environmental pathways. Incorporating biomonitoring into surveillance strategies can help better understand exposure patterns and design antibiotic stewardship interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How do changes in inflation and financial market development affect the size of the shadow economy? Previous studies show that lowering the tax rate, coupled with increasing the level of tax enforcement through policing and imposing high penalties for tax evasion may reduce the size of the shadow economy. While increasing the level of enforcement may be a viable strategy, most developing countries are unable to effectively enforce their tax laws. Based on empirical observations, we suggest that monetary authority could play an important role in this regard. Using a two-sector dynamic general equilibrium model of a small open economy, we demonstrate how monetary policy can be used to reduce the size of the shadow economy. The results suggest that, conditional on access to credit, a rise in inflation leads to a reduction in the size of the shadow economy. With little or no access to credit, such a policy will be ineffective. We evaluate alternative policy measures to achieve a targeted size of the informal sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper looks at the transition of workers in the MENA region between formal and informal jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic, and investigates whether trade policy could be adopted as a measure to enhance the transition of workers from the informal to the formal sector. We use the combined COVID-19 MENA Monitor Household Survey constructed by the Economic Research Forum for 5 MENA countries and 11 sectors. This topic is timely and critical for the MENA region where informal employment is widespread, applied tariffs are still high, and female labor participation is low. Our results show that: first, fewer trade restrictions are associated with an increased probability for the worker to become formal and this effect is more pronounced post-pandemic. Second, fewer trade restrictions are linked to an increase in the probability of becoming formal for blue collars only, with an insignificant effect on white collars. Third, fewer trade restrictions are associated with an increase in the probability of men to become formal, with an insignificant effect on women. Finally, the effect of trade policy on job formality depends on the sectoral occupation of the individual with this effect being more pronounced in agriculture and manufacturing relatively to services sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the COVID‐19 pandemic in Spain, the lockdowns brought about the loss of labour and social rights for many migrant women working in highly informal employment sectors. Drawing on digital ethnography, this article examines the role of migrant women in political mobilization within migrant associations during 2020 in Spain, when online interactions assumed primary importance. First, it shows how migrant organizations create bricolage by combining economic, social, cultural and political resources to organize migrants in Spain during COVID‐19 within the digital space. Second, the article highlights how the reactions of the migrant population to the pandemic in Spain represent an act of disruption led mainly by women, within the dynamics of social conflict and political activism that characterize migratory processes. This analysis displays as well the crucial role played by care relationships in these contexts of crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many countries, informal economies have been successfully managed, and effective plans, mechanisms, and procedures have been implemented to include these activities in urban areas. In Egypt, there is a wide gap between this goal and the competence of the different applied mechanisms in dealing with informal markets, economies, and its activities. This paper aims to propose policies and mechanisms that shall guide the planning process in Egypt, by amending the shortcomings in the currently implemented mechanisms and understanding the reasons for their emergence and their spatial arrangement. The research hence includes analysis for problem evolution and investigates successful policies and mechanisms in selected countries (India, China, and Algeria) in an attempt to highlight their shortcomings and potential amendments. These mechanisms will be tested through a structured interviews with Egyptian stakeholders comprising experts in planning, economy and decision makers, and in the light of the interviews results and outcomes this paper will present a list of proposed mechanisms. A comparative analysis has shown that Prospective mechanisms and policies will include legislative, planning, design, financial, management, and control mechanisms that if coherently combined can help integrating the informal economy in Egypt to achieve a successful inclusion and preventing problems related to these markets in urban areas and better regulate of these areas in future cities planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using national longitudinal survey data, this study examines the impact of international trade on income gaps between formal and heterogeneous informal workers in China. The results demonstrate that the positive effect of trade on income is larger for informal employees and smaller for self‐employed workers compared to formal employees. The decomposition results indicate that the disproportionate geographic distribution in tradable regions widens the income gaps between employment sectors, while the difference in international trade income premiums widens the income gap between formal and informal employees and narrows the income gap between formal employees and self‐employed workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using primary data collected from 230 handloom micro-entrepreneurs of rural Assam, present study made an attempt to understand the marketing efficiency across different marketing channels of handloom products, and identify the factors determining handloom micro-entrepreneurs' decision to select a marketing channel. Marketing efficiency was examined using standardised indices. A multinomial logistic regression model was estimated for identifying the factors determining marketing channel choice decision of handloom micro-entrepreneurs. Analysis of data reveals that though the retailer channel was economically most efficient among the three identified marketing channels in the study area, majority of handloom micro-entrepreneurs have chosen the least efficient channel of travelling traders for selling their produce. Using travelling traders as reference category, the results of regression estimate suggest that education of the entrepreneurs, firm size, access to market information, collective action through weavers' groups, access to credits, and transaction cost-related factors significantly influenced the decision of handloom micro-entrepreneurs in the choice of marketing channels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shadow economy's size and impact remain subjects of extensive research and debate, holding significant implications for economic policy and social welfare. In Lebanon, the ongoing crisis since 2019 has exacerbated severe economic challenges, with the national currency's collapse, bank crisis, and foreign reserve deficits. The World Bank reports Lebanon's financial deficit surpassed $72 billion, three times the GDP in 2021. Despite a drastic decline in GDP, imports have surged to near-pre-crisis levels, exacerbating economic woes and indicating a constant outflow of foreign currencies. Considering such contracting facts, this paper aims to investigate global factors influencing the shadow economy and discern their manifestations in Lebanon during financial crises. Our methodology involves a comprehensive literature review, alongside a case study approach specific to Lebanon. This dual-method strategy ensures a detailed understanding of the shadow economy's impact and the development of actionable insights for policy and economic reform. Through this approach, we seek to contribute to a nuanced understanding of Lebanon's economic landscape and provide valuable guidance for policy decisions aimed at reducing corruption, promoting transparency, and fostering a robust formal economy. The increase in the shadow economy raises the formal economy risk, as resources and activities diverted to informal channels hinder the growth and stability of the official economic sector. Although focusing on Lebanon, this analysis deepens the comprehension of the economic landscape and provides valuable guidance for policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders, aiming to address the root causes of informal economic activities and promote sustainable growth in developing countries in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzes the drivers and constraints affecting enterprise capacity utilization (CU) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. We used data from the World Bank Enterprise Survey and a fractional logit model to examine the impacts of institutional, infrastructural, and sustainability factors on firms' CU. Our analysis highlights corruption and competition in the informal sector as significant impediments to firms' CU, alongside complex infrastructure barriers that hinder the optimization. Conversely, environmental responsibility and innovation emerge as critical drivers for enhancing CU. Surprisingly, top managers' experience introduces a counteractive influence that negatively affects CU. Beyond the empirical findings, this study's implications extend to various stakeholders, notably policymakers. Emphasizing the need to address corruption, foster an enabling business environment, strategically invest in infrastructure, promote sustainability initiatives, and foster innovation to enhance CU are paramount. Additionally, providing targeted managerial training to mitigate negative managerial influences is crucial. Implementing these recommendations promises to foster an environment conducive to improved CU, driving economic growth, and sustainable development in the MENA region and benefiting stakeholders across sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While an increasing number of studies concerning youth and informality have examined the complex relationship between youth, informal work and transitions to adulthood, this literature has paid little attention to how the death of a family member presents distinctive challenges to young vendors' life and livelihood progression. Addressing this, the paper draws on a case study of a small‐scale informal worker in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, who was participating in in‐depth ethnographic research when their father died suddenly. Through this, it investigates how parental death intersects with the challenges a young vendor experienced working informally while simultaneously attempting to achieve transitions to anticipated adulthood. Life‐mapping interviews and participatory timeline diagrams were employed, gaining rich insights into a young vendor's experiences of parental death, revealing how these were shaped by an interplay between the past, present and future. More specifically, the research, which brings together literature concerning youth, informality and family relations, explores how parental death can (re)configure a young person's household roles, responsibilities and relations in response to sudden precarity in the present, reshaping priorities and plans towards achieving goals over different timeframes. Given persistent levels of informality and uncertainty across employment in sub‐Saharan Africa and beyond, this article provides a timely contribution by highlighting the need for more studies to investigate how parental death creates and exacerbates the challenges youth vendors experience, constraining their abilities to grow and sustain their lives and livelihoods within the informal sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Can and does realism explain the linkage between China’s economic advancement and its ever-increasing hard power and global influence? Realists assert that a growth in a nation’s economy triggers an upsurge in its craving for military or security advancement and power. Since the commencement of China’s ‘opening policy,’ its economy has witnessed tremendous hikes, being ranked second to the US economy. A vital coincidence of this is the ever-increasing attempt to modernising its military and general security systems. Of major concern is China’s recently established foreign military base in Djibouti in the ‘Horn of Africa.’ Realists have suggested that in such a Hobbesian world, Beijing will employ its economic power to assert its security interests. Analysing this linkage through a realist perspective, using case studies and historical analogies, the article concludes that realism best provides reasons for the phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Widespread use of lead acid batteries (LABs) is resulting in the generation of million tons of battery waste, globally. LAB waste contains critical and hazardous materials, which have detrimental effects on the environment and human health. In recent times, recycling of the LABs has become efficient but the collection of batteries in developing countries is not efficient, which led to the non-professional treatment and recycling of these batteries in the informal sector. This paper proposes a blockchain-enabled architecture for LAB circularity, which ensures authentic, traceable and transparent system for collection and treatment of batteries. The stakeholders—battery manufacturers, distributors, retailers, users, and validators (governments, domain experts, third party experts, etc.)—are integrated in the circular loop through a blockchain network. A mobile application user interface is provided to all the stakeholders for the ease of adoption. The batteries manufactured and supplied in a geographical region as well as the recycled materials at the battery end-of-life are traced authentically. This architecture is expected to be useful for the battery manufacturers to improve their extended producer responsibility and support responsible consumption and production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Issues related to shadow economy operation in Bulgaria and its socio-economic effects have been constantly a subject of extensive academic research. This was especially valid for the 1990s – the first decade of the market transition and related social, political, and economic reforms. Various studies aimed in understanding the multifaceted nature of undeclared work and its implications on the country's economic system. Policy-oriented research focused on issues concerning policymakers providing insights into the main drivers of the grey economy, enabling the development of targeted measures to address these underlying causes. This perspective is essential in understanding the shadow economy in Bulgaria as a former transition country not as an isolated phenomenon but as an integral part of the economic fabric that requires sophisticated and multifaceted responses. Furthermore, the methodological experience of researchers in monitoring the shadow economy in Bulgaria has evolved significantly, with a blend of statistical and sociological approaches being applied. In this respect, questionnaire surveys applying modern sociological standards as well as both micro- and macro-econometric analyses have been utilized. Particularly, various surveys have been instrumental in informing the policymaking in respect of the support to the national strategy for measuring, restricting, and preventing shadow economic activities. Additionally, the academic literature on the hidden economy in Bulgaria reflects on various socio-economic effects, including social legitimacy and economic expediency, viewing the grey economy as a parallel economic reality composed of life strategies that adapt to, neutralize, or completely ignore formal rules. This review article emphasizes on the complexity of the shadow economy issues in Bulgaria and the need for implementing comprehensive approaches to its study and evaluation. The ongoing academic discourse underscores the importance of continuous research and the adaptation of methodologies to capture the dynamic nature of this phenomenon. Moreover, the hidden economy has implications for tax morale, resulting in lower government revenues and impacting the country's ability to reach the goals of its national development programmes and sustainable growth. Particularly, the focus of the current review is put on a selection of recent studies that provides valuable information beneficial for the justification of different strategies to mitigate the negative impacts of the shadow economy, thereby fostering a more transparent and robust economic environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractProtracted displacement of refugees and IDPs (internally displaced people) is one of the most critical humanitarian problems today. Legislation often prohibits refugees’ rights to work, move beyond camps, or attain citizenship, while IDPs lack access to security and services. New approaches are urgently needed to overcome barriers to economic integration of displaced people’s livelihoods and enterprise as a stepping-stone to broader social integration. Drawing on refugee, development and informality literatures, this paper proposes a new Displacement Economies Framework, a theoretical and programming tool that helps bridge the humanitarian-development divide and highlight the agency and collective economic contribution of displaced people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mental health problems disproportionately affect young people in developing countries. However, there is limited research on help-seeking behaviours and the social support systems that improve mental wellbeing among vulnerable youth populations. Objective: This mixed-methods study aimed to examine the relationship between social support reciprocity and mental health among young informal construction workers in Nigeria, a population at high-risk for occupational and socioeconomic stressors. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to 686 informal workers to measure reciprocity, mental health-related quality of life, and covariates. In-depth interviews with 32 participants provided qualitative context. Results: Quantitative analyses showed 25% of participants reported poor mental health. Reciprocity positively predicted mental health after controlling for covariates. Qualitative findings revealed reciprocity occurs directly between individuals as well as indirectly through trade unions and religious groups. Indirect exchanges through groups helped address limitations of direct support due to limited resources. Conclusions: This study fills important gaps in understanding how social relationships impact mental health in developing country contexts. Findings emphasize the role of collective action and community-based support systems in promoting mental wellbeing among vulnerable populations. Insights can inform culturally relevant, systems-level mental health interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper sheds light on the internal heterogeneity within the informal economy by examining the working conditions of migrant informal workers in China. It presents the first attempt to test the WIEGO model on the relationship between informality, income, poverty and gender. Based on 107,020 samples of informal workers from the 2017 China Migrants Dynamic Survey (CMDS), economic, social and occupational health components of working conditions of migrant informal workers in five employment-status tiers are analysed. The results show the significant heterogeneity within informal workers in terms of their income, working intensity, labour contracts, social security, union and community support. The relationships between the informal employment tiers and income, poverty and gender show a pattern that is not fully in line with the WIEGO model, suggesting the complexity and plurality of heterogeneities in informal employment. The paper concludes by calling for research on regional varieties of the heterogeneity in informal employment worldwide to better understand the unfolding of the inequality-informality nexus in specific contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivation: In recent years, research has shown that informal workers and businesses in low‐income countries are increasingly taxed by the state. While rarely a significant revenue source, informal sector taxation in highly informalized economies affects a large proportion of the working population. Under such circumstances the question of whether taxing informal economic activity either improves or undermines state–society relations are still debated, particularly in the case of fragile states whose tax systems tend to be characterized by a high degree of coercion towards poor actors. Purpose: Previous research has tended to focus on tax evasion and how to increase tax compliance in the informal economy. In this article, we aim to explore how informal sector actors in Bamako, Mali, interact with local tax collectors in various ways with varying levels of agency. On this basis, we develop a broader analytical framework for understanding local government–taxpayer relations. Approach and methods: In a case study of Mali, a fragile state with violent conflict and a highly informalized economy, we made use of qualitative research methods with semi‐structured interviews and focus group discussions with different actors in the informal economy. Findings: We find four main modes of interaction: (1) "tax evasion," where individuals evade or minimize their tax obligations; (2) "tax bargaining," where groups with limited political resources negotiate with local authorities; (3) "forced taxation," where disadvantaged groups pay taxes without tangible returns or a voice in protest; and (4) "harsh sanctions" faced by those unable to pay or evade taxes. Informal sector actors show a different capacity for collective action impacting their agency vis‐à‐vis state authorities. Policy implications: The informal sector needs to be unpacked in fragile states, focusing on understanding existing fiscal pressures on different informal actors and their various strategies for navigating tax systems. Tax administrations should promote dialogue and trust‐building measures and avoid strategies that exacerbate social division and undermine state–society relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Latin America, informality has historically operated as a safety net during economic crises, by absorbing unemployed workers and providing income. However, unlike past economic crises, the 2020 crisis unleashed by the outbreak of the new coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) is not only economic but has resulted from a health emergency that requires social distance and isolation. In this article we argue that, in the context of social distancing and confinement measures, informal work constitutes a safety trap instead of operating as a safety net. First, informality as an economic subsistence mechanism is limited given that working activities in the informal sector are less convertible to remote jobs. Second, even when telework may be a viable option, the home conditions of informal workers often hinder the feasibility of telework. In making this argument, we bring to bear a conceptualization of potential to telework which includes both occupational and household components, the latter an often-neglected piece of the telework puzzle. To evaluate our argument, we conduct a quantitative cross-country analysis of seven Latin American countries (Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Peru, and Uruguay). The empirical analysis consists of a descriptive assessment of the potential to telework of informal workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The limited availability of formal jobs in developing nations always heightens the challenge for unemployed individuals in securing regular employment. Temporary employment in the informal sector serves as a source to fulfill their basic needs and enhance their employable skills. In this paper, we introduce a nonlinear mathematical model to study the effect of informal and formal jobs on the dynamics of unemployment. For the model formulation, we categorize the labor force into three classes: unemployed, temporary employed, and regularly employed. A separate dynamical variable is used to represent the available temporary vacancies. It is assumed that temporarily employed individuals may transition into regular employment or self-employment. Furthermore, self-employed individuals contribute to generating temporary vacancies within the informal sector. The long-term behavior of the proposed system is analyzed using the qualitative theory of differential equations. A quantity known as the reproduction number of the system is derived, and it is found that the occurrence of multiple bifurcations for the proposed system is influenced by the value of this threshold quantity. Furthermore, we validate our analytical findings numerically. The findings of this study illustrate that an increase in the shifting rate of individuals from temporary to regular employment is not always effective in increasing the number of regularly employed individuals. Additionally, an increase in the transition of temporarily employed individuals into self-employment, coupled with their involvement in creating more temporary jobs, proves beneficial in reducing unemployment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It argues that EAEU members and China need each other to implement their two major initiatives. As a result of the conjunction of the EAEU and BRI, China and the EAEU states linked their transportation infrastructure, which provided them opportunities for modernization and growth. The EAEU member states established contacts with the second economy of the world at a multilateral level as well. The Agreement on Economic and Trade Cooperation between the Eurasian Economic Union and Its Member States, of the One Part, and the People's Republic of China, of the other Part , signed in 2018, which came into force in 2019, provided added impetus to strengthen economic relations and created a legal platform for the further harmonization of the BRI with the EAEU. This article also argues that the conjunction of the EAEU and BRI has a political meaning as well. It means that in post-Soviet Eurasia, Russia and China have chosen cooperation over competition, as they are the main initiators of these economic and political integration initiatives. It explains that it fully coincides with the national interests of other members of the EAEU, such as Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, as these states can cooperate with both Russia and China without choosing any side. This contribution concludes that cooperation between China and the EAEU in post-Soviet Eurasia improves security level and contributes to peaceful, cooperative development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Ensayos - Revista de Economía is the property of Ensayos Revista de Economia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study examines the causal relationship between informality and globalisation in 30 African countries. It deviates from traditional research by adopting a bi-directional framework to address reverse causality. By applying the DH causality method in both linear and nonlinear frameworks, this research challenges the assumption of a linear relationship and finds that the causal structure is better explained within a nonlinear asymmetric context. This paper provides recommendations based on the identified causal relationships. For countries in which globalisation leads to informality, such as Angola, Congo, Guinea, Gambia, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Tunisia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, the paper suggests policy measures to integrate the informal sector into the formal economy. These measures include designing programmes to facilitate transition, implementing skill development initiatives, and establishing support mechanisms for entrepreneurship and small businesses. Additionally, this paper advises the development of social safety nets, improved market access, effective monitoring and regulation mechanisms, education on the benefits of globalisation, and international cooperation. For countries experiencing positive shocks from informality to globalisation, this paper recommends targeted support programs for entrepreneurship, initiatives to formalize the sector, the enhancement of market access, and skill development tailored to the needs of the informal sector. These policy recommendations aim to capitalize on the positive shocks in informality by fostering entrepreneurship, formalization, market access, and skill development. In the case of negative shocks in globalisation leading to positive shocks in informality, the paper suggests implementing resilience-building policies for the informal sector during economic downturns, establishing social safety nets, and adopting flexible labour policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We develop a methodology for measuring the scale of the unregistered wages paid to staff by employers. We show that the differences in earnings distribution between public‐ and private‐sector employees are not reflected in the distribution of expenditure. Assuming that public‐sector employees do not receive unreported income, this points to undisclosed income in the private sector. After showing that the distribution of income from non‐wage sources does not systematically depend on the sector, we argue that the differences may be attributed to envelope wages. We estimate that 10%–11% of employees in Poland receive envelope wages, which account for around 5% of total earnings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Anuario Turismo y Sociedad is the property of Universidad Externado de Colombia, Facultad de Empresas Turísticas y Hoteleras and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)