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Formal sector subcontracting and informal sector employment in Indian manufacturing

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  • Ana Moreno-Monroy
  • Janneke Pieters
  • Abdul Erumban

Abstract

Using nationally representative survey data of Indian manufacturing enterprises spanning the period 1995–2006, we analyze the link between formal sector subcontracting and informal sector employment. A novelty in our analysis is that this relationship is allowed to differ between modern and traditional segments of the informal sector. We show that formal sector subcontracting is positively related to employment growth only in the most modern segments of the informal sector. Increased subcontracting cannot explain the persistently high employment in traditional informal manufacturing activities in India. Instead, subcontracting can contribute to job creation in relatively modern segments of the informal sector. JEL codes: J21, O14, O17 Copyright Moreno-Monroy et al.; licensee Springer. 2014

Suggested Citation

  • Ana Moreno-Monroy & Janneke Pieters & Abdul Erumban, 2014. "Formal sector subcontracting and informal sector employment in Indian manufacturing," IZA Journal of Labor & Development, Springer;Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 3(1), pages 1-17, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:izaldv:v:3:y:2014:i:1:p:1-17:10.1186/s40175-014-0022-2
    DOI: 10.1186/s40175-014-0022-2
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    3. K. V. Ramaswamy, 2021. "Do Size-dependent Tax Incentives Discourage Plant Size Expansion? Evidence from Panel Data in Indian Manufacturing," Margin: The Journal of Applied Economic Research, National Council of Applied Economic Research, vol. 15(4), pages 395-417, November.
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    5. Sanjay RODE, 2015. "Employment Pattern, Skills and Training Issues among Informal Sector Workers in Mumbai Metropolitan Region," Economia. Seria Management, Faculty of Management, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 18(1), pages 125-138, June.
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    8. Surbhi Kesar & Snehashish Bhattacharya, 2020. "Dualism and Structural Transformation: The Informal Manufacturing Sector in India," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 32(3), pages 560-586, July.
    9. Djidonou, Gbenoukpo Robert & Foster-McGregor, Neil, 2022. "Stagnant manufacturing growth in India: The role of the informal economy," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 528-543.
    10. Tanaka, Kiyoyasu & Hashiguchi, Yoshihiro, 2017. "Agglomeration economies in the formal and informal sectors : a Bayesian spatial approach," IDE Discussion Papers 666, Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization(JETRO).
    11. Duman, Anil, 2024. "The Diversity of Informal Employment: a survey of drivers, outcomes, and policies," OSF Preprints yg3t7, Center for Open Science.
    12. Ceyhun Elgin & M. ayhan Köse & Franziska Ohnsorge & Shu Yu, 2021. "Growing Apart or Moving Together? Synchronization of Informal and Formal Economy Cycles Abstract:," Working Papers 2021/04, Bogazici University, Department of Economics.
    13. Surbhi Kesar, 2022. "Nature and Pattern of Subcontracting Linkages in the Informal Economy in India: Implications for Possibilities of Economic Transformation," Working Papers 254, Department of Economics, SOAS University of London, UK, revised Dec 2022.
    14. Erumban, Abdul Azeez & Das, Deb Kusum & Aggarwal, Suresh & Das, Pilu Chandra, 2019. "Structural change and economic growth in India," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 186-202.
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    16. Erumban, Abdul A., 2024. "Informality and aggregate labor productivity growth: Does ICT moderate the relationship?," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(1).
    17. Prosper Senyo Koto, 2017. "Is Social Capital Important In Formal-Informal Sector Linkages?," Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship (JDE), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 22(02), pages 1-16, June.
    18. Muhammad Ali & Vichayanan Rattanawiboonsom & Candido M. Perez & Abdullah Khan, 2017. "Comparative Positioning Of Small And Medium Enterprises In Bangladesh, Thailand And The Philippines," Economy of region, Centre for Economic Security, Institute of Economics of Ural Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, vol. 1(2), pages 381-395.
    19. Beladi, Hamid & Dutta, Meghna & Kar, Saibal, 2016. "FDI and Business Internationalization of the Unorganized Sector: Evidence from Indian Manufacturing," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 340-349.
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    21. Surbhi Kesar, 2024. "Subcontracting Linkages in India's Informal Economy," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 55(1), pages 38-75, January.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Informal sector; Subcontracting; Employment; Manufacturing; India;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • O14 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Industrialization; Manufacturing and Service Industries; Choice of Technology
    • O17 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements

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