Informal Economy - Opportunity, not threat
Informal Economy - Opportunity, not threat
SUMMARY
By some estimates the informal economy is the second largest economy in the world, yet governments have a history of attacking it and failing to realize the opportunities on offer for economic progress. Embracing the opportunities in terms of employment and taxation possible from creating effective regulation would help to formalize the informal economy. Rather than working against it, some companies have struck success by accommodating a different means of doing business. Supporting such a large number of people - be it through employment or utilizing goods and services - working to improve the informal economy is the best outcome, particularly for many developing countries in which the informal economy is notably large
Key Highlights
SUMMARY
By some estimates the informal economy is the second largest economy in the world, yet governments have a history of attacking it and failing to realize the opportunities on offer for economic progress. Embracing the opportunities in terms of employment and taxation possible from creating effective regulation would help to formalize the informal economy. Rather than working against it, some companies have struck success by accommodating a different means of doing business. Supporting such a large number of people - be it through employment or utilizing goods and services - working to improve the informal economy is the best outcome, particularly for many developing countries in which the informal economy is notably large
Key Highlights
- Some companies have been able to change how products are sold to meet the needs of the informal economy. MTN, for instance, failed to break into the Nigerian market when attempting to use conventional means; only when mobile phone services were sold to meet the needs of the informal economy was success struck.
- Government crackdowns on the informal economy are bad for national economies. Not only does a large section of the economy fail to achieve its business potential, but cycles of bribery and corruption remain. Furthermore, services which employ vast numbers of people are damaged and those dependent upon them are faced with greater difficulties than normal.
- Some countries are becoming much better at finding means of taxing the informal economy, helping to businesses operating outside of the law closer to a formalized setup. This is the correct approach because of the economic potential the informal economy has.
- Explores how companies are adapting to the informal economy.
- Explains why bribery is not the problem some governments believe it to be.
- Analyzes policies created to deal with the informal economy
- Seeks to explain the economic significance of the informal economy
- How important is the informal economy to the working poor in developing nations?
- What can be done to formalize the informal economy?
- How are governments changing approach to the informal economy?
Overview
Catalyst
Summary
Major companies choose to sell directly to street vendors, circumventing traditional routes
Some companies have demonstrated how to accommodate a different way of doing business
Companies can change products to suit informal economy
Banking products are changing informal business, helping to bring many closer to formalization
Share offerings are now available to informal economy businesses
Government crackdowns are bad for ordinary people and economic performance
Attempts to shut down informal economy in Lagos caused mayhem for many people living in poverty
Iconic street food of Bangkok has not been exempt from heavy handed governance
India removed 86% of cash in circulation, harming many poor people in the informal economy
Informal economy has major impact on wealth - it must be aided, not discarded
Informal economy serves those who require it the most, helping growth by providing employment and services
Some countries are becoming much better at taxing informal businesses
Informal economy is helping to improve the health of poor people, enabling greater economic activity
Informal businesses are functioning closer to formal companies
Governments can influence scale of informal economy
Brazil created an incentive system to increase business registration
Indian government passes street vendor law, but it resembles a thinly veiled threat rather than granting legitimacy
Governments in developed countries have influence on informal economy too
Bribery: commonly associated with informal work, it also afflicts formal companies
Informal economy bribery is essential, creating a problem for moving towards formalization
Although commonly associated with informal traders, bribery afflicts incorporated companies
Conclusions
Informal economy is an opportunity, not a threat
Appendix
Sources
Further Reading
Ask the analyst
About MarketLine
Disclaimer
Catalyst
Summary
Major companies choose to sell directly to street vendors, circumventing traditional routes
Some companies have demonstrated how to accommodate a different way of doing business
Companies can change products to suit informal economy
Banking products are changing informal business, helping to bring many closer to formalization
Share offerings are now available to informal economy businesses
Government crackdowns are bad for ordinary people and economic performance
Attempts to shut down informal economy in Lagos caused mayhem for many people living in poverty
Iconic street food of Bangkok has not been exempt from heavy handed governance
India removed 86% of cash in circulation, harming many poor people in the informal economy
Informal economy has major impact on wealth - it must be aided, not discarded
Informal economy serves those who require it the most, helping growth by providing employment and services
Some countries are becoming much better at taxing informal businesses
Informal economy is helping to improve the health of poor people, enabling greater economic activity
Informal businesses are functioning closer to formal companies
Governments can influence scale of informal economy
Brazil created an incentive system to increase business registration
Indian government passes street vendor law, but it resembles a thinly veiled threat rather than granting legitimacy
Governments in developed countries have influence on informal economy too
Bribery: commonly associated with informal work, it also afflicts formal companies
Informal economy bribery is essential, creating a problem for moving towards formalization
Although commonly associated with informal traders, bribery afflicts incorporated companies
Conclusions
Informal economy is an opportunity, not a threat
Appendix
Sources
Further Reading
Ask the analyst
About MarketLine
Disclaimer
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Share of the economy which is informal, average 1999-2007
Figure 2: MTN street store in Nigeria
Figure 3: Spaza store in South Africa
Figure 4: Proportion of products sold informally on Nigerian streets, 2015
Figure 5: Bangkok Street food market
Figure 6: Rate of poverty in Nigeria by area, 2010
Figure 7: International food prices according to Food Price Index
Figure 8: Street vendor in Delhi
Figure 9: Lowest share of the economy taken by the informal economy, average 1999-2007
Figure 10: Percentage of people in India who consider organizations to be corrupt
Figure 11: Ranking on the corruption index, 2016
Figure 1: Share of the economy which is informal, average 1999-2007
Figure 2: MTN street store in Nigeria
Figure 3: Spaza store in South Africa
Figure 4: Proportion of products sold informally on Nigerian streets, 2015
Figure 5: Bangkok Street food market
Figure 6: Rate of poverty in Nigeria by area, 2010
Figure 7: International food prices according to Food Price Index
Figure 8: Street vendor in Delhi
Figure 9: Lowest share of the economy taken by the informal economy, average 1999-2007
Figure 10: Percentage of people in India who consider organizations to be corrupt
Figure 11: Ranking on the corruption index, 2016
