Publications on informal economy
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ILO Working paper 39
Welfare Effects of Unemployment Benefits when Informality is High
05 August 2021
We analyze for the first time how the high incidence of informal employment affects the welfare effects of unemployment benefits (UBs) outside of developed economies, exploiting matched administrative and survey data from the UB scheme of Mauritius. We find positive and large welfare effects, because the consumption drop at layoff exceeds what studies find for high-income countries, while the efficiency costs are comparatively low. In addition, UB recipients appear to move into informal employment out of economic necessity, rather than as part of a strategic choice.
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COVID-19 and the informal economy in Africa
The impact of COVID-19 on the informal economy in Africa and the related policy responses
14 April 2020
Africa’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic is just beginning to take shape. While the delayed spread of the Coronavirus has given the continent some preparatory head time, the varying economic, social and political contexts are making it harder for the region to draw many relevant lessons from the responses in China, for example, or western countries.
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Key Indicators of the Labour Market 2015 KILM
8. Employment in the informal economy
16 November 2015
The KILM 8 indicator is a measure of employment in the informal economy as a percentage of total non-agricultural employment. There are wide variations in definitions and methodology of data collection related to the informal economy. Some countries now provide data according to the 2003 guidelines concerning a statistical definition of informal employment. The KILM 9th edition contains national estimates on informal employment.
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Publication
Employment diagnostic analysis: Bosnia and Herzegovina
23 June 2011
Employment Working Paper No. 86