Types of work in the informal economy

This chapter reviews the heterogeneous types of work in the informal economy. Based on economic units, firstly, unregistered enterprises are examined and secondly, participation in the informal economy by registered formal enterprises to reveal the ñdegrees of informalisationÓ of enterprises. Turning to employment relationships, and again identifying employment relationships as ranging from more formal to more informal, at the more formal end of the spectrum, first, bogus self-employment is examined and second, quasi-formal employment, through third, unregistered employment and fourth, informal self-employment to fifth and finally, paid favours at the more informal end of the spectrum. Recognising that there are also three-way employment relationships between an employer, worker, and an intermediary, first, the emergence of informal work in the collaborative economy is discussed and second, informal employment relationships in agency work. Finally, some new forms of work in the informal economy arising during the COVID-19 pandemic are discussed.