{"product_id":"9781464818349","title":"Hidden Potential: Rethinking Informality in South Asia","description":"\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor\/Contributor(s):\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"\"\u003eBussolo, Maurizio; Sharma, Siddharth\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWorld Bank Publications\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDate:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e01\/24\/2023\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBinding:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"\"\u003ePaperback\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"\"\u003eNEW\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003eInformality remains widespread in South Asia despite decades of economic growth. The\nlow earnings and high vulnerability in the informal sector make this a major development\nissue for the region. Yet, there is no consensus on its causes and consequences, with the\ndebate polarized between a view that informality is a problem of regulatory evasion and\nshould be eradicated, and another that equates informality with economic exclusion.\nRecent advances in analyzing informality as the outcome of firm dynamics in distorted\neconomic environments can help reconcile them. Building on these advances, the\napproach adopted in this volume clarifies that there are different types of informality,\nwith different drivers and consequences.\nThe report has four main messages that underscore the need for a multipronged strategy.\nFirst, informality in South Asia is dominated by firms that happen to be outside the\npurview of regulations because they are small, as opposed to those that remain small\nto escape regulations. Second, reforms of business regulations tend to have small direct\neffects on the informal sector, although they could have sizable indirect impacts on it if\nthey succeed in removing major inefficiencies in the broader economy. Third, e-commerce\nplatforms offer new opportunities to informal firms and workers, but many of them lack\ncomplementary skills or credit to benefit from such technologies. Fourth, a combination\nof contributory and non-contributory programs recognizing the heterogenous saving capacities of informal workers may be\nnecessary to achieve more universal coverage of social insurance.","brand":"World Bank Publications","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46511225110783,"sku":"9781464818349","price":43.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0452\/0886\/2873\/files\/Jacket_c01925c0-e5cc-4705-a45e-4c73a5c64e80.jpg?v=1738950791","url":"https:\/\/massivebookshop.com\/products\/9781464818349","provider":"MASSIVE BOOKSHOP","version":"1.0","type":"link"}