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Informality and financial development: A literature review

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  • Salvatore Capasso
  • Franziska Ohnsorge
  • Shu Yu

Abstract

A large literature has documented an inverse relationship between financial development and the size of the informal economy, with some evidence that the link is non‐monotonic and depends on the institutional environment. The direction of causality, however, remains a matter of debate, making it hard to identify the right policy interventions for better economic outcomes. This paper reviews this literature. Drawing on the theoretical literature, it sketches out the various channels through which financial development can influence firms' choice to operate informally at all or the degree to which they operate informally, or vice versa. In addition, this paper summarizes the empirical evidence that, at the moment, suggests causality running in either direction.

Suggested Citation

  • Salvatore Capasso & Franziska Ohnsorge & Shu Yu, 2022. "Informality and financial development: A literature review," Manchester School, University of Manchester, vol. 90(5), pages 587-608, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:manchs:v:90:y:2022:i:5:p:587-608
    DOI: 10.1111/manc.12417
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    Cited by:

    1. Joseph Mawejje, 2024. "Government expenditure, informality, and economic growth: Evidence from Eastern and Southern African countries," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 36(1), pages 125-138, March.
    2. Capasso, Salvatore & Ohnsorge, Franziska & Yu, Shu, 2022. "From Financial Development to Informality: A Causal Link," CEPR Discussion Papers 17565, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    3. Barra, Cristian & Papaccio, Anna & Ruggiero, Nazzareno, 2024. "Are cooperative and commercial banks equally effective in reducing the shadow economy? International evidence," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    4. Musa Abdullahi Sakanko & Joseph David & Nurudeen Abu & Awadh Ahmed Mohammed Gamal, 2024. "Financial inclusion and underground economy nexus in West Africa: evidence from dynamic heterogeneous panel techniques," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 57(1), pages 1-20, February.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • E26 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Informal Economy; Underground Economy
    • G20 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - General

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