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This paper examines the impact of informal economy and ecological footprint on environmental regulation for a sample of 25 Sub-Saharan Africa economies (SSA) countries from 1991 to 2017. The results obtained from the techniques of static panel (Pooled ordinary least squares (POLS), random effects (RE), fixed effects (FE), and panel corrected standard error (PCSE)) as well as from dynamic panel (generalized method of moments in differences (D-GMM), and generalized method of moments in system (S-GMM)) were all consistent. They showed that the environmental regulation has a significant positive impact for both informal economy and ecological footprint in the selected economies. Regarding the relation between ecological footprint and per capita gross domestic product (GDP), an inverted U-shaped environmental Kuznets curve is verified. The study concludes that weak environmental regulation in the region reinforces informal economy and environmental pollution. Hence, findings from this study can help policymakers in the region to have a better understanding of the role of environmental regulation in reducing informal economy and environmental degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyses of the informal economy are vital to understanding economic activity in developing countries, but challenges abound when analysing something that is so difficult to measure. In this article, we explore these challenges and what they mean for research and research design in studies of the informal economy. We review key economic theories developed to study the informal economy, before critically discussing the range of methods of data collection available for researchers. All approaches to data collection have limitations, yet many studies fail to reflect adequately on these in their design and presentation. In reviewing data sources for economic analyses of informality, we give particular attention to surveys designed and led by academic researchers, the consideration of which is omitted from leading official organisations' own reports on data collection in the informal economy. In the absence of a unifying theory and data sources that deliver the 'comprehensive and accurate' data called for by some authors we argue, first, that no one source of data is intrinsically superior; and second, that research on the informal economy must embrace transparency—around the data used, their alignment with the underlying theory adopted, and the detailed arrangements for data collection and analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economics has long shunned qualitative research methods, such as interviews, focus groups and observational studies, in preference for quantitative methods, such as empirical analysis of secondary data and field experiments. Moreover, recent years, with advances in econometric theory, have seen a notable increase in the size and quality of data sets that are needed to publish quantitative research in leading journals. This has the effect of significantly increasing the 'entry costs' for researchers interested in studying economic development. Crucially, it also limits the topics that can be studied. In particular, it focuses attention on issues and countries where large data sets exist or can be collected. In this paper, we argue that by putting too much weight on internal validity, economics has adopted a too narrow definition of 'rigour' and would benefit from embracing qualitative and mixed methods research. To illustrate our point, we pay particular attention to the informal economy. The informal economy is understudied by economists because of the lack of available quantitative data. We show that this fundamentally impacts our understanding of the wider economy. Qualitative research can enrich our understanding by providing a more complete and nuanced view of the economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In pursuit of good governance and better allocation of resources, corruption and informal economy are of interest to policymakers and citizens alike. The impacts of military spending on the informal economy are scant. Moreover, the effects of an external factor, such as corruption that moderates this relationship, have largely been neglected in previous studies. Hence, this paper investigates how corruption moderates the effects of military spending on the informal economy in 30 Asian countries from 1995 to 2017. Design/methodology/approach: This paper utilizes the GMM estimation technique, which allows cross-sectional dependence and slope homogeneity in panel data analysis, to examine the moderating role of corruption on the relationship between military spending and the informal economy. Findings: Empirical findings from this paper indicate that an increase in military spending declines the informal economy while corruption increases it. Interestingly, the negative effects of military spending on the informal economy will mitigate with a greater degree of corruption in the Asian region. We also find that enhancing economic growth and attracting more FDI has reduced the informal economy in Asian countries. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first empirical study conducted to examine the moderating role of corruption on the military spending – informal economy nexus. Thus far, this approach has not been investigated in the existing literature, particularly for Asian countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although considerable discussion has been devoted to the macro determinants of labor market variables across genders, comparatively little attention has been given to the contribution of the informal economy to this market. This study was aimed at empirically investigating the impact of the size of the shadow or informal economy (IE) on labor market variables across genders in 12 Middle Eastern countries. The study used quarterly time series data on each country under investigation, covering 1991 to 2015. Phillips–Perron unit root tests were carried out to verify the stationarity of the examined economic series. An autoregressive distributed lag approach was adopted to conduct cointegration tests and estimate long-run regression coefficients and error correction terms. The results indicated that the IE served men and women differently across countries. Whereas this economy had a long-run positive relationship with men's employment rates in Bahrain, Iran, Qatar, and Turkey, this relationship existed among women only in Israel. IE activities matter in the employment of men and women in Middle Eastern countries. The sizes of IEs in the labor market are a significant factor that favors men's employment rather than that of women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an era of ongoing global development and increasing focus on sustainability, the underground economy persistently identifies novel areas for expansion. This dynamic growth compels states to engage in an ongoing search for effective strategies to regulate and mitigate its effects, while simultaneously addressing the broader implications for economic development. Poverty, financial development, income inequality, and legal framework are analyzed in this paper in relation to the underground economy for the European Union member states between 2004 and 2022 by way of a panel model. Our findings reveal a positive relationship between the levels of poverty among individuals and the underground economy. Conversely, the interplay between the underground economy and both financial development and the legal framework exhibits a detrimental effect. In conclusion, our analysis reveals that the three primary variables examined—poverty, financial development, and legal framework—substantially influence the scale of the underground economy, with important implications for overall economic development and sustainable growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a context of ever-growing demand for tourism property, this paper scrutinizes emerging forms of tourism-led housing commodification in Havana, Cuba. In 2011, the Cuban property market reopened to investment when the socialist government allowed the sale of private property at prices set in a market environment. We pay attention to the critical role of Cuban migrants, remittance investors and lifestyle elites in commodifying Havana’s historic housing stock and transforming residential property into short-term rentals, hotels, private restaurants and tourist boutiques. We demonstrate how the Cuban government has become an active market facilitator, either by restraining private competition or by encapsulating tourism property investment within broader channels of the state. We conclude that the case of Havana is indicative of broader trends in tourism and hospitality, particularly in the Global South and East. We propose tourism-led housing commodification as a conceptual framework for understanding these broader commonalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of Microfinance institutions (MFIs) in driving financial inclusion is contested. We argue that the ability of MFIs to consistently contribute to financial inclusion depends on their business model and its resilience to structural changes. We find that MFIs with an embedded business model (i.e., deep engagement with the local community) perform better in the aftermath of structural policy interventions as compared to MFIs with a transactional model. Using a difference in differences analysis on a database of MFIs that operated in India during the currency demonetization, we find support for our hypotheses. Our findings indicate that while transactional MFIs do better in a stable environment, embedded MFIs hold the advantage in a turbulent environment. Our results underscore the role of business model fit with the environment in driving financial inclusion. We also alert practitioners to the tradeoffs involved in being embedded in the local context (or lack thereof). [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]

Scholarship about worker precarity, economic insecurity, and individualized risk in platform work tends to ignore that these trends are common features of informal economies in countries like Kenya, which has a culture of hustling rooted in economic opportunism and political resistance. Recognizing the parallels between the platform economy and Kenya's informal economy, we examine individual and collective strategies ride-haling drivers in Kenya use to navigate the precarity of platform work. This study draws primarily from interviews with 30 ride-hailing drivers working in Nairobi, Kenya. Interview data is supplemented by two rounds of in-person fieldwork conducted by the first author who solicited rides, engaged in unstructured conversations with drivers, and kept detailed notes. Although ride-hailing companies severely limit opportunities for driver autonomy and labor power, drivers engaged in several individual and collective acts of resistance to increase their income and wrestle back control from their employers. These acts of resistance include extending rides, adding customers outside of the app, asking riders to cancel requests, and striking. While ride-hailing platforms exert significant control over drivers' working conditions and income, drivers can exercise labor power through acts of resistance based on hustling and solidarity. These acts of resistance rely heavily on solidarities among drivers as well as between drivers and riders. This study answers calls to de-Westernize platform studies by asking what Kenyan ride-hailing drivers can teach the rest of the world about navigating the precarity of global platform work. Our findings extend previous research on platform worker resistance in the Global South by introducing the importance of solidarities between platform workers and clients. [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]

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]

Abstract Background Many low-and middle-income countries have adopted social health insurance schemes. However, the collection of contributions from the large informal sector of these economies poses a significant challenge. Employing an integrated system of contribution collection from all relevant institutions may be cost-effective. We used the integrative framework for collaborative governance, to explore and explain factors that may shape the governance of an integrated system for collecting contributions for social health insurance, pension, and taxes from the informal sector in Zambia. Methods We undertook a qualitative case study involving 25 key informants drawn from government ministries and institutions, cooperating partners, non-governmental organizations, and association representatives in the informal sector. Data were analyzed thematically using Emerson’s integrative framework for collaborative governance. Results The main drivers of collaboration included a need for comprehensive policies and legislation to oversee the integrated system for contribution collection, prevent redundancy, reduce costs, and enhance organizational effectiveness. However, challenges such as leadership issues and coordination complexities were noted. Factors affecting principled engagement within the collaborative regime consisted of communication gaps, organizational structure disparities, and the adoption of appropriate strategies to engage the informal sector. Additionally, factors influencing shared motivation involved concerns about power dynamics, self-interests, trust issues, corruption, and a lack of common understanding of the informal sector. Conclusion This study sheds light on a multitude of factors that may shape collaborative governance of an integrated system for contribution collection for social health insurance, pension, and taxes from the informal sector, providing valuable insights for policymakers and implementers alike. Expanding social health insurance coverage to the large but often excluded informal sector will require leveraging factors identified in this study to enhance collaboration with pension and tax subsystems.

Thailand has experienced a decline in income inequality coupled with unimpressive economic growth since the end of the 1997/98 Asian financial crisis. This paper uses the structuralist approach to understand how these concurrent economic phenomena have become deeply intertwined. We argue that this intertwining results from Thailand’s economic structure, manifesting two types of dualism: (i) the dualism of the formal–informal sectors and (ii) the dualism of the dynamic–stagnant sectors. A decline in the informal sector in recent years coincides with a decrease in income inequality. Further, the second type of dualism between the dynamic and stagnant sectors has emerged since 2000. The stagnant sectors’ employment share has grown faster than that of the dynamic sectors, resulting in a slowdown in economic growth and less inequality. The decline of the informal sector and the rise of the stagnant sectors are the primary engines weighing down economic growth and reducing income inequality in Thailand.

This article presents the main acts of international law and the jurisprudence of European courts that aim to ensure decent working conditions for domestic workers. The author analyzes the legal status of this group of workers in Poland from the times before the Second World War until now. The publication argues that Polish legislation should be complemented by specific provisions concerning domestic workers. The introduction of such measures to the Polish legal system is necessary to align national law with the ILO legal acts. Moreover, the author proposes that state financial incentives for natural persons employing domestic workers should be available in certain cases to encourage the legalization of this type of work.

This study aims to investigate the impacts of the informal economy, climate migration and temperature changes on energy demand and long-term urban energy system planning. The elasticity of energy demand to changes in the size of the informal sector, urban population and mean temperature is estimated for the case study city of Accra, Ghana. Elasticities are then applied to estimate energy demand under different Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs). An energy system optimization model analyzes SSP impacts on energy planning. Accra's energy demand is found to be most elastic to climate change-induced migration and rising temperatures; for example, energy demand is up to 43% higher in 2050 in a worst-case scenario compared to the base case. These factors will exacerbate the city's ability to meet its sustainability targets and manage informal sector growth. Photovoltaics, waste CCP and decarbonization of the transportation sector through electrification are found to be critical solution pathways for Accra to meet rising demand while supporting sustainability objectives. However, significant local distribution grid upgrades are required to support these technologies' rollout. Overall, this work demonstrates the importance and value of incorporating climate migration, rising temperature and informal sector analysis in energy planning models and decision-making processes, particularly in low and middle-income countries that are the most vulnerable to climate change. Although the approach is demonstrated on Accra, it can be applied at other scales and scopes globally.

While in developing countries around 50% of total employment are informal sector jobs, and much more among the poorest, its statistical measurement is a major issue. Having long remained a black hole of national statistical systems, sound methodologies have been developed to measure the informal sector in its different dimensions (employment, production, and more broadly articulation with the rest of the economy) in a reliable manner. Taking stock on nearly four decades of experiences accumulated around the world, this article presents a system of original surveys, specially designed for this objective: the Informal Sector Mixed (households-businesses) Surveys (ISMSs). After exposing their theoretical principles, the paper addresses the main challenges of implementation in the field, detailing their advantages and limitations. In particular, we question the compatibility of ISMSs with the recommendations of the new Resolution concerning statistics on the informal economy, adopted in 2023 during the 21st International Conference of Labor Statisticians. We also identify avenues to address a certain number of challenges that still arise with this type of survey, both in the methodological field and on the institutional level. We illustrate our discussion with a set of selected empirical results drawn from surveys conducted in various contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Informality is widespread globally, with many workers and enterprises lacking formal arrangements. Effective statistics on the informal economy are essential for policy development, improving working conditions, and promoting decent work. Over the past 30 years, the establishment of statistical standards on informality has helped countries better measure and understand the informal sector and informal employment.Recent revisions to these standards, driven by evolving statistical labour standards and growing national experience, have led to a new resolution on informal economy statistics. Adopted at the 21st ICLS in 2023, this resolution offers a comprehensive framework for defining and measuring informality. It introduces concepts such as informal productive activities, the informal economy, the informal market economy, and informal work, setting the structure and boundaries for informality statistics.By integrating the 19th ICLS resolution on work, employment, and labour underutilization and the 20th ICLS resolution on work relationships, including ICSE-18, the new standards align with previous resolutions, promoting coherence in labour statistics. The resolution includes improved definitions of the formal and informal sectors, household own-use production and community sector, and formal and informal employment, enhancing data quality and harmonization across countries. Overall, the 21st ICLS resolution significantly enhance countries’ capacity to produce harmonized, policy-relevant statistics on the informal economy, aiding efforts to formalize it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to examine the factors influencing presumptive tax collection in Zimbabwe. An interpretivist paradigm was adopted in this study using a qualitative research approach. Primary data were collected through virtual (online) in-depth interviews with 20 participants drawn from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, Civic Societies, Parliament of Zimbabwe, Informal Sector Associations and academics. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis. The results of a qualitative analysis of the factors influencing presumptive tax collection in Zimbabwe show that institutional, legal and regulatory frameworks as well as governance and political factors significantly contribute to presumptive tax collection in Zimbabwe. The findings of this study will help ZIMRA and policymakers formulate policy strategies to promote presumptive tax collection and voluntary tax compliance in Zimbabwe. [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]

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]

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]

Traditional food markets in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are pivotal urban spaces, especially for vulnerable populations. These markets are vibrant hubs for commerce, cultural exchange, and social interaction, yet they face challenges such as food safety issues, inadequate infrastructure, and regulation that is a complex mix of informal mechanisms in need of a balanced degree of formalization. Rapid urbanization in SSA and the vulnerabilities of informal settlements underline their enduring importance. The COVID-19 pandemic further highlighted their crucial role in promoting food access, supporting local economies, and preserving social connections during crises. However, a comprehensive understanding of their multifaceted impact on urban life remains limited. This study provides a systematic narrative literature review with the aims of mapping the existing literature and evaluating their complex impact on vulnerable communities. The review employed a systematic search strategy, encompassing research studies and gray literature. It highlights the geographic distribution of studies across SSA, with a concentration in East and Southern Africa. Nutrition is the most explored theme, followed by governance, with economics and social aspects relatively under examined. Traditional food markets are vital sources of affordable food for the urban poor and serve as pillars of economic mobility, providing livelihoods and employment opportunities, especially for women, and act as hubs for diverse groups to interact. Market governance is complex, often marked by policy misalignments due to insuficient collaboration among stakeholders. Policy initiatives to support traditional foodmarkets in SSA should focus on formalization and context-aware regulations to enhance effciency and vendor security, investment in market- related infrastructure, and nutrition-focused policies and economic support for vendors. Further research is needed to bridge thematic and regional gaps, and to inform evidence-based policy measures to support these vital urban institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal 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.)

Copyright of Çalışma ve Toplum is the property of Calisma ve Toplum 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.)

In this article we develop and analyse novel datasets to retrace the persistence and scale of underground market activity in Maoist China. We show that, contrary to received wisdom, Chinese citizens continued to engage in market-based transactions long after "socialist transformation" was ostensibly complete, and that this activity constituted a substantial proportion of local economic output throughout the Maoist era. This helps to explain, in part, why, when markets were officially reopened in China, private economic activity took off. We arrive at these findings through the development and analysis of novel datasets based on unconventional historical sources – namely, a collection of 2,690 cases of "speculation and profiteering" that were recovered from flea markets in eastern China. We show how these grassroots sources can be systematically analysed and used, in lieu of official statistical aggregates, to develop new insights into the macro workings of the Maoist economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses what might be gained from placing informal urban settlements at the centre of analyses of contemporary Fiji. Holding around 20 percent of the total population and growing rapidly, these settlements represent significant demographic movement and economic transformations. Analytically, they offer a paradigm shift. Heterogeneous and complex, racially mixed, transient and rapidly changing, squatter settlements are places that challenge many of the taken-for-granted assumptions used to analyse Fiji, including its politics of ethnic division, rigid social hierarchies, and the centrality of village economies. Instead, they offer new insights into the contradictions, ambiguities, and insecurities that come to signify the contemporary moment for many Fiji citizens. Following Brij Lal's later work, I draw upon ongoing ethnographic research in two urban settlements to ask what centring the narratives of urban squatters themselves, in discussions about nation-building, citizenship rights, and social justice, can teach us about Fiji in the present as well as its potential for future transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to assess the role of technological advancement and institutional quality in mitigating the formal economy and fostering more inclusive economic well-being for families and consumers in ASEAN countries. This study employed panel data analysis using yearly data for the ten countries in ASEAN, spanning from 2008 to 2018. Findings indicate significant and diverse impacts of technological advancement on the informal economy. The study found that the interaction between technological advancement and economic growth strengthens the relationship between the informal economy across models. The higher economic growth in a country is associated with reduced informal economic activities, as reflected in the principles of modernization theory. The finding further shows the significance of institutional quality in shaping the informal economy. Strong institutional quality helps to create a structured environment that reduces informal economic activities, aligning with neoliberal theory. Governance quality, including the absence of violence and terrorism and the control of corruption, plays a role in mitigating informalities. The study’s primary contribution is its specific focus on the informal economy and the intricacies of ASEAN nations. The study also provides empirical insights into the behavior and determinants of the informal economy in ASEAN nations. Even though the study acknowledges limitations related to data availability and the challenges of quantifying the gig economy, it holds valuable policy implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Taiwan Journal of East Asian Studies is the property of National Taiwan Normal University, College of International Studies & Social Sciences 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.)

The paper proposes a novel framework for digitalising tax revenue for the Zimbabwe’s informal economic sphere. The study addresses the pressing chalelnge of informal economy taxation, indetifying the absence of a modern (or contemporary) tax framework as a critical catalyst for this study. The purpose of the study was to to devise an innvovative framework tailored to improve tax revenue collection efficiency from the informal economic sector in Zimbabwe. Employing a mixed method approach deemed effective complex subject, data were gathered through structured questionnaire and in-depths interviews. The findings of this study reveals that the existing presumptive tax system is ineffective and insignificantly contributing to the treasury. Based on the results, the study developed a comprehensive contempoary framework designed specifically for tax revenue collection from the informal economic sphere in Zimbabwe. The study, therefore, advocates for the adoption of the proposed framework to streamline tax collection processes within the informal economy, thereby bolstering economic growth and inclusivity.

Women engaged in street food vending face a myriad of challenges as they juggle business activities and family obligations. The complexities of managing both spheres often disrupt their pursuit of a balanced life, impacting their overall well-being. This study aims to reveal the work-family dynamics of female food vendors and uncover the strategies employed to navigate these challenges. Qualitative research methods were used to understand the work-life balance among women food vendors. The data were collected through interviews, focus group discussions, and observations of street food vendors in Africa. Findings reveal the persistent struggle of women food vendors to achieve equilibrium between work and family responsibilities. Although they employ a variety of strategies, ranging from working extended hours to relying on external support such as grandparents or domestic help, these approaches often prove insufficient and unsustainable. Moreover, the utilization of such strategies can lead to conflicts with employers. Through an examination of daily routines, work-life balance, and coping mechanisms, the author’s conclusions shed light on the intricate interplay between entrepreneurship, personal responsibilities, and resilience within the dynamic street vending landscape.

A continuous decline in the number of informal economies in the advanced economy has been boosted across the globe by various institutions such as IMF (International Monetary Fund). But a resurrection of the informal economy is being witnessed in the United States (US) with a 102% jump from 1990 to 2018. Over the years technological advancement has impacted the involvement of labour in the production process, with rapid automation in the last three decades this involvement has been reduced a to minimalistic level. In this paper, we tried to build a narrative to explain this resurgence of the informal market in the US. Through our theoretical framework, we commented on how unemployed graduates and the informal economy are associated with automation. The result showed that both variables were positively associated with automation which was confirmatory of the theory put forward. Lastly, we also comment on income inequality and automation which were also positively related.