How Robust A Concept Is The Informal Economy And How Large Is Its Scope? A Few Sketchy Comments

Résumé: The concept of informal economy (henceforth informality) proves a happy heuristics, but also encapsulates diverse theories and distinct methodologies lacking consensus. Hence, the author coins informality as a “fuzzy set”, namely the overlap of multi-criteria analyses. In the first place, he singles out the theories addressing the causes of persistent informality. Then, he goes back to the genesis of the extensive concept of informality that remains controversial, with respect to the informal sector and the business approach versus informal employment and job status, and its nested components. Last, he discusses the reliability of data sources as for North Africa and he compares the informal economy, a subset of the Non-Observed Economy, and the shadow economy.

Publié dans la revue: Revue d'études sur les institutions et le développement