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Street-level Informal Economic Activities: Estimating the Yield of Begging in Brussels

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  • Stef Adriaenssens

    (HUB-University College Brussels, Stormstraat 2, Brussels, 1000, Belgium, stef.adriaenssens@hubrussel.be)

  • Jef Hendrickx

    (HUB-University College Brussels, Stormstraat 2, Brussels, 1000, Belgium, jef.hendrickx@hubrussel.be)

Abstract

This article develops and applies a method to estimate the revenues of beggars in Brussels. This is relevant for three reasons. First, in the literature on the informal economy, we lack reliable empirical knowledge of informal street-level activities like begging, substantiating the expectation that beggars’ income will be low. Secondly, popular representation of beggars often depicts them as criminal and wealthy. Finally, recent legislation builds on the idea of criminal organisations behind beggars. Building on an analysis of existing attempts to measure beggars’ income, we aim for a triangulation with data from three different sources: observation, self-reports and quasi-experimental observations. This triangulation allows for more reliable and valid conclusions. Hypotheses based upon popular images and the criminalisation of begging are dismissed. The evidence does support the hypothesis based upon the literature on informal activities.

Suggested Citation

  • Stef Adriaenssens & Jef Hendrickx, 2011. "Street-level Informal Economic Activities: Estimating the Yield of Begging in Brussels," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 48(1), pages 23-40, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:48:y:2011:i:1:p:23-40
    DOI: 10.1177/0042098009360688
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Bernstein, Joshua D., 2019. "Begging to travel: Begpacking in Southeast Asia," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 161-163.
    3. Ebeling, Felix & Feldhaus, Christoph & Fendrich, Johannes, 2017. "A field experiment on the impact of a prior donor’s social status on subsequent charitable giving," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 124-133.

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