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Evaluating competing theories of informal employment: some lessons from a 28-nation European survey

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  • Colin C. Williams
  • Jan Windebank

Abstract

Informal employment has been variously explained as resulting from: economic under-development and a lack of modernisation (modernisation theory); high taxes and state interference in the free market (neo-liberal theory) or inadequate levels of state intervention to protect citizens (political economy theory). The aim of this paper is to evaluate these competing theories by comparing the findings of a 2013 survey on the variations in the prevalence of informal employment across 28 nations with cross-national variations in the economic and social characteristics each theory denotes as determinants. The finding is that informal employment is less prevalent in wealthier, modernised societies with higher levels of taxation and social protection expenditure, more effective social transfer systems and lower levels of severe material deprivation. No evidence is thus found to support neo-liberal theory, but evidence is found to support the modernisation and political economy theories. The paper concludes by discussing the theoretical and policy implications.

Suggested Citation

  • Colin C. Williams & Jan Windebank, 2015. "Evaluating competing theories of informal employment: some lessons from a 28-nation European survey," International Journal of Business and Globalisation, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 15(1), pages 45-62.
    • Handle: RePEc:ids:ijbglo:v:15:y:2015:i:1:p:45-62
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Mbara, Gilbert & Tyrowicz, Joanna & Kokoszczynski, Ryszard, 2020. "Striking a balance: Optimal tax policy with labor market duality," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    2. Sahoo, Bimal & Neog, Bhaskar Jyoti, 2015. "Heterogeneity and participation in Informal employment among non-cultivator workers in India," MPRA Paper 68136, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Colin C. Williams & Abbi M. Kedir, 2019. "Explaining cross-country variations in the prevalence of informal sector competitors: lessons from the World Bank Enterprise Survey," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 15(3), pages 677-696, September.
    4. Colin C. Williams & Abbi Kedir, 2018. "Explaining Cross-National Variations In The Prevalence Of Informal Sector Entrepreneurship: Lessons From A Survey Of 142 Countries," Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship (JDE), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 23(01), pages 1-22, March.
    5. Wasseem Mina, 2018. "The Determinants of Social Protection Expenditures and Labor Market Flexibility," International Center for Public Policy Working Paper Series, at AYSPS, GSU paper1810, International Center for Public Policy, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University.

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