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A framework for thinking about enterprise formalization policies in developing countries

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  • Kenyon, Thomas

Abstract

What policies encourage firms to become formal? The standard approach emphasizes reducing the costs of compliance with government regulation. This is unlikely to be sufficient. Instead we need to understand compliance as a function not only of firm-level costs and benefits but also in terms of the interaction between the firm and its competitors and between the firm and the state. This paper emphasizes the coordination and credibility issues involved in promoting formalization and discusses possible institutional solutions, among them business associations that make the benefits of membership dependent on compliance, information sharing arrangements among government agencies and improvements in the quality of public management.

Suggested Citation

  • Kenyon, Thomas, 2007. "A framework for thinking about enterprise formalization policies in developing countries," Policy Research Working Paper Series 4235, The World Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:4235
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    Cited by:

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    2. Kabubo-Mariara, Jane & Machio, Phyllis Mumia & Njoroge, Michael Murigi & Chemengich, Margaret, 2023. "Links between firm registration and performance: Does it pay to register?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    3. Rafaela Bastidas & Nicolás Acosta, 2019. "Misallocation and manufacturing TFP in Ecuador: formal, semi-formal and informal firms," Journal of Economic Structures, Springer;Pan-Pacific Association of Input-Output Studies (PAPAIOS), vol. 8(1), pages 1-29, December.
    4. Joshi, Anuradha & Prichard, Wilson & Heady, Christopher, 2014. "Taxing the Informal Economy: The Current State of Knowledge and Agendas for Future Research," Working Papers 13663, Institute of Development Studies, International Centre for Tax and Development.
    5. repec:kqi:journl:2017-1-1 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Ana Maria Oviedo & Mark R. Thomas & Kamer Karakurum-Ozdemir, 2009. "Economic Informality : Causes, Costs, and Policies - A Literature Survey," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 5917, December.
    7. World Bank, 2009. "Gender in Bolivian Production : Reducing Differences in Formality and Productivity of Firms," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 2669, December.
    8. Belal Fallah, 2014. "The Pros and Cons of Formalizing Informal MSES in the Palestinian Economy," Working Papers 893, Economic Research Forum, revised Dec 2014.
    9. Neil McCulloch & Günther G. Schulze & Janina Voss, 2010. "What Determines Firms’ Decisions to Formalize?," Discussion Paper Series 13, Department of International Economic Policy, University of Freiburg, revised Nov 2010.
    10. World Bank, 2012. "Ecuador : The Faces of Informality (Las Caras de La Informalidad) [Ecuador - Las caras de la informalidad]," World Bank Publications - Reports 13252, The World Bank Group.

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    Keywords

    Microfinance; Small Scale Enterprise; Public Sector Economics&Finance; Economic Theory&Research; Public Sector Regulation;
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