Book
Informal Labour Markets and Development

This book presents significant new research on the informal labour markets of developing countries. Examining the critical role of informal labour markets in allowing countries to adjust successfully to the forces of globalization, this volume also brings to the fore a number of problems associated with the expansion of informal employment, such as poor working conditions, the lack of worker protection and the proliferation of urban slums. Comprising theoretical and empirical case studies from Africa, Asia, Central Europe and Latin America, it facilitates comparisons across developing countries from diverse geographical areas.

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Editor

Basudeb Guha-Khasnobis

Ravi Kanbur

Details

July 2006

Palgrave Macmillan,

© UNU-WIDER

Table of contents
  1. Introduction: Informal Labour Markets and Development
    Basudeb Guha-Khasnobis, Ravi Kanbur
  2. Part I: Economic Reform and Informal Labour Markets
    Globalization, Reform and the Informal Sector
    Sugata Marjit, Dibyendu S. Maiti
    More Working Paper | Globalization, Reform and the Informal Sector
  3. Part I: Economic Reform and Informal Labour Markets
    Trade Reforms and Informalization: Getting Behind Jobless Growth in India
    Anushree Sinha, Christopher S. Adam
  4. Part I: Economic Reform and Informal Labour Markets
    Evasive Reform: Informalization in a Liberalized Economy with Wage-setting Unions
    Indraneel Dasgupta, Sugata Marjit
  5. Part I: Economic Reform and Informal Labour Markets
    Township and Village Enterprises and Employment Generation in China
    Guanghua Wan, Yuchun Zhu
  6. Part I: Economic Reform and Informal Labour Markets
    The Informal Sector During Crisis and Transition
    Ralitza Dimova, Ira N. Gang, John S. Landon-Lane
    More Working Paper | The Informal Sector During Crisis and Transition
  7. Part II: Survival Strategies of the Urban Poor
    An Investigation of the Labour Market Earnings in Deprived Areas: Evaluating the Sources of Earning Differentials in the Slums
    Joãn Pedro W. de Azevedo
  8. Part II: Survival Strategies of the Urban Poor
    Urban Informal Sector and Networks: A Case Study of Delhi Slum Dwellers
    Arup Mitra
  9. Part II: Survival Strategies of the Urban Poor
    Inter- and Intra-household Linkages between the Informal and Formal Sectors: A Case Study for Urban Burkina Faso
    Michael Grimm, Isabel Günther
    More Working Paper | Inter- and Intra-household Linkages Between the Informal and Formal Sector
  10. Part II: Survival Strategies of the Urban Poor
    Skill Requirements, Earnings and Labour Demand in Nigeria's Urban Informal Sector
    Sam O. Olofin, Abiodun O. Folawewo
  11. Part II: Survival Strategies of the Urban Poor
    Survival Strategy and the Importance of the Informal Sector for Urban Poor Families: A Case Study of Jakarta
    Tulus Tambunan
  12. Part II: Survival Strategies of the Urban Poor
    Public Policies to Promote Productive Occupation and Increase Formality Among the Moderately Poor: The Mexican Agenda
    Eduardo Sojo, Roberto Villarreal
    More Working Paper | Public Policies to Promote Productive Occupation and Increase Formality Among the Moderately Poor
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Endorsements

'Despite Arthur Lewis’s predictions and arguments in the 1950s, it is clear that the informal sector is here to stay. Over the last half a century, the dynamics of rich and poor economies have further impressed the fact that ‘informality’ is not a passing phenomenon. In this context, this volume from UNU-WIDER is a great contribution to an appreciation of the opportunities and challenges in the informal sector. The countries selected show the rich experience in the informal sector of big and small economies from different regions of the world. A better understanding of the informality will enable policy makers and development practitioners to bring out the best from this sector, contributing to a world with more economic growth and less poverty. This book accomplishes this task very well.' - Sudharshan Canagarajah, Senior Economist, the World Bank

Context

Project
Unlocking human potential conference
Keywords