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Informal Firms and Financial Inclusion: Status and Determinants

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  • Subika Farazi

    (Development Economics Research Group and Financial and Private Sector Development, The World Bank, 1818 H Street, NW, Washington, DC 20433, United States)

Abstract

Many firms in the developing world — including a majority of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) — operate in the informal economy. The informal firms face a variety of constraints, making it harder for them to do business and grow. Lack of access to finance is often cited as the biggest operational constraint these firms face. This paper documents the use of finance and financing patterns of informal firms, highlights differences between use of finance by formal and informal firms, and identifies the most significant characteristics of informal firms that are associated with higher use of financial services.

Suggested Citation

  • Subika Farazi, 2014. "Informal Firms and Financial Inclusion: Status and Determinants," Journal of International Commerce, Economics and Policy (JICEP), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 5(03), pages 1-28.
    • Handle: RePEc:wsi:jicepx:v:05:y:2014:i:03:n:s1793993314400110
    DOI: 10.1142/S1793993314400110
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Floridi, A. & Wagner, N. & Cameron, J., 2016. "A study of Egyptian and Palestine trans-formal firms – A neglected category operating in the borderland between formality and informality," ISS Working Papers - General Series 619, International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam (ISS), The Hague.
    2. Kumar, Alok, 2023. "Financial market imperfections, informality and government spending multipliers," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    3. Nam Hoang Vu & Tuan Anh Bui & Tram Bao Hoang & Hanh My Pham, 2022. "Information technology adoption and integration into global value chains: Evidence from small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises in Vietnam," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(2), pages 259-286, March.
    4. Epstein, Brendan & Finkelstein Shapiro, Alan, 2017. "Employment and firm heterogeneity, capital allocation, and countercyclical labor market policies," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 25-41.
    5. 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.
    6. Finkelstein Shapiro, Alan & Mandelman, Federico S., 2016. "Remittances, entrepreneurship, and employment dynamics over the business cycle," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 184-199.
    7. Agyekum, Francis K. & Reddy, Krishna & Wallace, Damien & Wellalage, Nirosha H., 2022. "Does technological inclusion promote financial inclusion among SMEs? Evidence from South-East Asian (SEA) countries," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    8. Kanayo K. Ogujiuba & Maria Eggink & Ebenezer Olamide, 2023. "Impact of Elements of Finance and Business Support on the SME Business Ecosystem in South Africa: An Econometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-19, May.
    9. Le Thanh Ha & Dao Hanh Le & Nguyen Ngoc Mai, 2021. "Bribes, market power and access to credit: evidence from cross-country firm-level data," International Review of Economics, Springer;Happiness Economics and Interpersonal Relations (HEIRS), vol. 68(4), pages 527-550, December.
    10. Rojas Cama, Freddy & Emara, Noha & Trabelsi, Mohamed, 2024. "Financial inclusion and the informal sector," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 70(PB).
    11. Tshepiso Gaetsewe, 2020. "Characteristics of Firms in Botswana's Informal Economy," Working Papers 74, Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis.
    12. Juan Carlos Urueña-Mejía & Luis H. Gutierrez & Paul Rodríguez-Lesmes, 2023. "Financial inclusion and business practices of microbusiness in Colombia," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 13(2), pages 465-494, June.
    13. Ozili, Peterson K, 2023. "Institutional theory of financial inclusion," MPRA Paper 115770, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    14. Andrea Floridi & Binyam Afewerk Demena & Natascha Wagner, 2022. "A Game Worth The Candle? Meta-Analysis Of The Effects Of Formalization On Firm Performance," Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship (JDE), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 27(04), pages 1-27, December.
    15. Trinh, Q. Long & Morgan, Peter J. & Sonobe, Tetsushi, 2020. "Investment behavior of MSMEs during the downturn periods: Empirical evidence from Vietnam," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 45(C).
    16. Sarah Lynne Salvador Daway-Ducanes & Maria Socorro Gochoco-Bautista, 2019. "Manufacturing and Services Growth in Developing Economies: ‘Too Little’ Finance?," Progress in Development Studies, , vol. 19(1), pages 55-82, January.
    17. Jahel Queralt, 2019. "Protecting the entrepreneurial poor: A human rights approach," Politics, Philosophy & Economics, , vol. 18(4), pages 336-357, November.
    18. Prasenjit Bujar Baruah & M. P. Bezbaruah, 2020. "Financial Access and Business Performance of Urban Unorganised Sector Enterprises: A Study of Assam in Northeast India," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Emerging Economies, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, vol. 29(1), pages 119-147, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Informal sector; financial inclusion; firm registration; O12; O17; L20;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O17 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements
    • L20 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - General

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